HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) is a web security feature that helps protect against man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, particularly attacks that compromise unencrypted communication sessions.
HSTS works by forcing web browsers to only connect to a website over an encrypted and secure HTTPS connection. If a user tries to connect to a website through an unencrypted HTTP connection, HSTS will automatically force the browser to redirect the user to the HTTPS version of the same website. This process helps prevent attackers from intercepting unencrypted HTTP traffic and redirecting users to malicious sites or injecting malware.
HSTS is implemented through a special HTTP response header sent by the server to the browser. This header contains the instruction to only use HTTPS connections for a specified period of time, usually several months or up to a year. The next time the user tries to visit the same website, the browser will remember the HSTS instruction and automatically use HTTPS instead of HTTP.
In summary, HSTS is an important security feature that helps protect website visitors from MITM attacks and ensures that all communication between the user and the website is encrypted and secure.
