As was the case with VPNs, let’s again imagine that the Internet is a huge city with many roads, highways, intersections, and traffic lights. Data is constantly moving along these roads: emails, videos, music, and files. And the “rules of the road” for this data are set by information transfer protocols. These are special instructions that tell the data where and how to move in order to reach the recipient quickly and without errors.

Simply put, protocols are the language that devices on a network “speak”.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the main data transfer protocols that are critical to the functioning of the Internet and other networks.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol or Internet Protocol)

TCP/IP is not a single protocol, but rather a set of protocols, and is a standard for data transmission in networks. It includes several important protocols that operate at different levels.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

TCP is a protocol that ensures reliable data transmission from one network node to another. It performs the following key functions:

1. Ensures that data is delivered without errors, in the correct order, and without duplicates.
2. Adjusts the data transmission rate according to the recipient’s ability to process the data.
3. Reduces the risk of network congestion by adapting the data transfer rate to the current network state.

IP (Internet Protocol)

IP operates at a lower level compared to TCP and provides addressing and routing of packets (data blocks) in the network. For example, addressing, where each device on the network has a unique IP address that is used to identify nodes, and routing, which is the determination of the path of data packets from sender to receiver through various network devices (say, routers).

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

HTTP is a protocol used to transmit hypertext documents, let’s take web pages as an example. It works on the basis of requests and responses:

Request:
When you enter a URL into your web browser, the browser sends a request to the server using HTTP.

Response:
The server processes the request and sends back a response, which usually contains the HTML code of the page.

HTTP is a stateless protocol, which means that the server does not store any data between two requests from the same client.

HTTPS (HTTP Secure)

HTTPS is already an extension of HTTP that uses encryption to ensure secure data transmission. HTTPS uses the SSL/TLS protocol to encrypt data, and in this case provides:

Confidentiality:
Information cannot be read by third parties during transmission.

Data integrity:
Data cannot be altered during transmission.

Authentication:
You can verify that a website is who it says it is.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

The FTP protocol is designed to transfer files between a client and a server. It allows users to upload files to the server or download them from the server. FTP can work in two modes:

Active mode:
The server initiates a data connection.

Passive mode:
The client initiates the data connection.

FTP is very useful for large files, but it does not encrypt data, which makes it vulnerable to information interception. For secure file transfer, we recommend using SFTP or FTPS, as they provide data encryption.

All these protocols form the basis of network communication and allow Internet technologies to function efficiently and securely in a wide range of applications.

Why is it important to protect these protocols?

Protecting information on the network is no less important than protecting your own home. Here are some key “locks” and “alarms”:

Encryption:
It’s like sending secret emails in a code that’s hard to decipher. Even if someone intercepts such data, it will be meaningless to them without a special key.

Authentication:
Verifying that “you” are really “you.” This can be a password, fingerprint, or face scan. Such methods help ensure that only the person to whom the information is intended has access to it.

VPN (Virtual Private Network):
A VPN creates a secure “tunnel” for your data, even on an open, insecure network, such as a café or airport. It’s like riding in an invisible car.

How to protect your data?

Protecting information in the digital world is not only a necessity, but also a daily responsibility. Below, we’ve written more about each of the options that will help keep your information safe:

Step 1. Use strong passwords

Strong passwords are the first and most important protection against unauthorized access. Here’s how you can create a strong password:

• Use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. The more diverse the password, the harder it is to crack.
• The recommended password length is at least 12 characters. The longer length makes it much more difficult to choose.
• Do not use passwords that are easy to guess, such as “password”, “123456”, or use your pet’s name, family name, etc.
• Password management programs can help you generate random, strong passwords and store them in a safe place.

Step 2. Keep your software up to date

Regular software updates help protect your devices from vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors:

• Turn on automatic updates on your computer, smartphone, and other devices.
• Update not only operating systems but also all installed programs, especially antivirus software.
• Check from time to time to make sure that all apps and systems on your device are up to date.

Step 3. Be careful with Wi-Fi

In one of our previous articles, we talked about Wi-Fi in more detail. You should realize that open networks can be dangerous:

• Use a VPN. A virtual private network encrypts your Internet traffic. This, in turn, helps protect data even on open Wi-Fi networks.
• Avoid logging into personal accounts or performing financial transactions while connected to public Wi-Fi.
• If possible, use networks with WPA2 or WPA3 encryption for added security.

Step 4. Encrypt sensitive data

Encryption helps protect your privacy, even if data is intercepted:

• Most modern operating systems allow you to encrypt the entire hard disk.
• For particularly sensitive files, you can use specialized software to encrypt individual files or only certain folders.
• Use services that provide file encryption during transmission and storage (for example, Dropbox or the well-known Google Drive).

Each of these steps is important not only to protect personal information, but also to ensure that your online activities remain private.

Understanding and properly using data transfer protocols, as well as applying recommended security practices, are key to working safely and securely in the digital world.