{"id":246,"date":"2023-10-06T08:39:39","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T08:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/?p=246"},"modified":"2023-10-13T09:25:21","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T09:25:21","slug":"What-is-HSTS-How-to-Implement-on-your-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/246\/What-is-HSTS-and-How-to-Implement-on-your-website.html","title":{"rendered":"What is HSTS & How to Implement on your website?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Keeping your website data is probably the most important thing, and believe me, you can\u2019t be sure of the security with just a 301 redirect while switching from HTTP to HTTPS. The 301 redirect still leaves a tiny window of opportunity for hackers to get inside your home and steal your most valuable possession, the data of your website.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s enough about the problem; let\u2019s talk about the solution!<\/span><\/p>\n

HSTS, an added level of security to your website.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what is it really?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Also Read: <\/strong>How to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS in htaccess?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

What is HSTS? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

HSTS stands for HTTP Strict Transport Security. It is a web server directive; In simple terms, it is a web security policy mechanism that only enables secure connections to access your website. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

HTTPS is a secure protocol, but there is one flaw that makes it less secure and puts your website data in danger, it is not on by default. So, in the middle of a  user not using HTTPS and you telling them to do so, a hacker can hijack the user\u2019s connection. It is as bad as it sounds.  <\/span><\/p>\n

So how can an HSTS prevent this from happening? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Normally the sequence of events occurs in this pattern. A user will want to access your website, and his connection will request your server for access to the site. The server, being a gentleman, will send a 301 Moved Permanently response to the browser to tell it to redirect the HTTP address to HTTPS.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now,  the user has access to your website, so he\u2019s happily browsing. The problem occurs when a hacker controls the user\u2019s connection and can easily block the 301 response and hijack the browsing session.  <\/span><\/p>\n

HSTS does a simple thing; with the 301 redirect request, it also tells the browser to redirect itself to HTTPS before responding.  So, our protagonist, HSTS, saves the day by enabling HTTPS site-wide. Now, no one can access your website without a secure connection, and the antagonist,  the Hacker, will sit around grinding his teeth in frustration. <\/span><\/p>\n

Another important term regarding HSTS is Preloading,<\/strong> but what is it?<\/span><\/p>\n

The preload works as a melee weapon for HSTS to secure your website. The  HSTS has one major flaw; it doesn\u2019t work for the very first connection a user <\/span><\/p>\n

makes. If a user is browsing your website for the first time, there is still a  chance of hijacking and all the bad stuff we talked about earlier. The preload prevents just that.  <\/span><\/p>\n

HSTS preloading is a Chromium project initiative. In this, the Chromium project maintains and built-ins a list of all the HSTS-enabled websites. When a new user browses the website, the preload makes the connection act as if they\u2019ve already seen the HSTS header, securing the website completely.  <\/span><\/p>\n

You have to get your website listed in the preload list.  <\/span><\/p>\n

The obvious question now is: <\/strong><\/p>\n

How to set up HSTS? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

HTTP Strict Transport Security has some requirements before it can provide its services. They are: <\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A Valid SSL certificate.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Redirection of all HTTP links to HTTPS with a 301 Permanent Redirect. <\/span><\/li>\n
  3. An SSL certificate coverage of all your subdomains.  <\/span><\/li>\n
  4. The Preload directive must be specified.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. The Max-age is 31536000 seconds.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. The includeSubDomains<\/strong> directive must be specified if you have them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Also Read: <\/strong>How to Install SSL on WordPress<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    To Turn on HSTS, you can simply add a header to all responses of your server: <\/span><\/p>\n

    Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=300; includeSubDomains; preload<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    To Install HSTS in Apache Web Server <\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Simply add this to your .htaccess file: <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Use HTTP Strict Transport Security to force the client to use secure connections  only Header always set Strict-Transport-Security \u201cmax-age=300;  includeSubDomains; preload\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n

    Also Read: <\/strong>How To Install CentOS Web Panel In CentOS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    To Install HSTS in lighttpd<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Simply add this to your Lighttpd configuration file\/etc\/lighttpd\/lighttpd.conf <\/span><\/p>\n

    server.modules += (\u201cmod_setenv\u201d) $HTTP[\u201cscheme\u201d] == \u201chttps\u201d {setenv.add response-header = (\u201cStrict-Transport-Security\u201d => \u201cmax-age=300;  includeSubDomains; preload\u201d)}  <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    To Install HSTS in NGINX<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Add this to your site.conf file: <\/span><\/p>\n

    add_header Strict-Transport-Security \u2018max-age=300; includeSubDomains;  preload; always;\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n

    Also Read: <\/strong>NGINX Explained! Know its Working & What is it Used For?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    To Install HSTS in IIS Servers <\/strong><\/h3>\n

    protected void Application_BeginRequest(Object sender, EventArgs e) {switch  (Request.Url.Scheme) {case \u201chttps\u201d: Response.AddHeader(\u201cStrict-Transport Security\u201d, \u201cmax-age=31536000; includeSubDomains; preload\u201d); break; case  \u201chttps\u201d: var path = \u201chttps:\/\/\u201d + Request.Url.Host = Request.Url.PathAndQuery;  Response.Status = \u201c301 Moved Permanently\u201d;  <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    Response.AddHeader(\u201cLocation\u201d, path); break; }} <\/p>\n

    <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    Congratulations,<\/strong> you\u2019ve successfully added another security to your website!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Keeping your website data is probably the most important thing, and believe me, you can\u2019t be sure of the security with just a 301 redirect while switching from HTTP to HTTPS. The 301 redirect still leaves a tiny window of opportunity for hackers to get inside your home and steal your most valuable possession, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-website"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is HSTS & How to Implement on your website?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ever heard about the term HSTS? Get a detailed guide on HSTS and find out the ways to implement it on the website for security. 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