WHAT IS MIXED CONTENT?

When the initial HTML is loaded over a secure HTTPS, then Mixed Content occurs. The other resources like images, videos, scripts, etc., are loaded over insecure HTTP. There are two protocols on webpages rendered by browsers named as HTTP and HTTPS. The HTTPS connection is safer than the HPPT connection. The Mixed content is simply referring to the websites that load both HTTP and HTTPS content on the same page.

There are many websites that show Mixed content issues due to external resources like Stylesheets, scripts, etc. Some web content loaded securely and some web content loaded insecurely. The HTTPS plays a very important role in the website as it protects the information and details of the owner of the website from attacks by the other resource. Mixed content on the website ruin all the security and privacy of the webpage.

HTTPS BENEFITS

The HTTPS uses an encrypted connection to communicate. The HTTPS makes the web server secure. There are useful benefits of HTTPS.

– Authentication – HTTPS helps the user and makes the trust that he/she opens the correct website. The website is secure and not malicious. If the person is using the bank website, then HTTPS helps to secure your information. Your login credentials and other details will be secure and your browser authenticates the websites properly.

– Data integrity – HTTPS helps the browser to detect if any data which the browser receives has changed by the attacker or not. This will give protection in transferring money from the bank’s website. The HTTPS secure your information on the place and due to HTTPS attacker cannot attack on your website and change the information.

– Secrecy – In this HTTPS helps to secure the information of sending and receiving content of the user. HTTPS prevents the attacker from stealing the browser’s request.

TYPES OF MIXED CONTENT

There are two types of mixed content: –

– Passive mixed content – When the webpage is unable to manipulate itself on the browser then it known as passive mixed content. For example- images. In passive mixed content, the attacker can track users and break the security of the website by using mixed content.

– Active mixed content – The active mixed content is able to manipulate the page around it. For example- JavaScript. This is greater than passive mixed content.

HOW TO FIX MIXED CONTENT ISSUE?

If you visit the website and you see the Not Secure notification in the Chrome browser. The HTTPS domain is present but still, a website showing the same notification then there are high chances of Mixed content on the website.

– Identify Mixed content: – If you see the notification on the browser like “Insecure content found on the webpage”. Then you have to go to the source and check the source code whether it contains HTTPS URL or not. The short for checking this is Ctrl+f. the browser will show warnings to you and HTTPS mixed content on the webpage.

– Check the resource: – The resource needs to check whether it is HTTP or HTTPS. The mixed content can be available in both the form HTTP and HTTPS. In this case, the user doesn’t have to make any changes. The auto-upgradation of the browser is done by itself.

– Migrating an HTTP resource to HTTPS: – There are some steps that you need to follow if while accessing the website you see the warning notification or find resources that are not having HTTPS. You should include the same source that is having an HTTPS version. Download the same external resource and put it in your HTTPS server. Exclude the resource altogether.

– Update source file: – After uploading the domain on the HTTPS server then update the source file with the new HTTPS URL.

– Check the error resolved or not: – After updating the source file with a new HTTPS URL, check the website whether the error is resolved or not or still the error is showing on the website.

So why don’t the browser block sites with mixed content warning?

The browser cannot block all the mixed content websites as most of the mixed content is very popular and most searched on the browser. The browser shows the websites which have some of the less severe forms of mixed content. It will be difficult for the browser to block all the popular websites altogether.

MIXED CONTENT WEAKENS HTTPS

The Mixed content on the website weakens the security of HTTPS. The attacker eavesdrops the notification from the network and attack on the information and communication between 2 parties. Many browsers show the warnings on the websites about the mixed content. The security of the information and details is compromised due to mixed content. The developer needs to fix the content on the application. The browser cannot directly block the websites as most of the mixed content websites are very popular on the browser.

WHY IS MIXED CONTENT BAD?

The mixed content degrades the security of the webpage. The mixed content shows the high-security risk of the website. The websites with mixed content rank is lower than the secure websites with HTTPS. Due to mixed content and insecure HTTPS, the attacker can totally take over the page and hacks all the information details.