Yes, the POST method is secure enough to transmit passwords online when used in conjunction with HTTPS.
It is a standard practice to send plain text passwords over HTTPS via the POST method. As confirmed by the reference, the communication between client-server is encrypted as per TLS, so HTTPS secures the password. This encryption is the fundamental layer that protects sensitive data like passwords during transit over the internet.
Why HTTPS is Crucial for Password Transmission
The security of sending passwords online doesn't solely rely on the HTTP method (like POST or GET) but fundamentally on the transport layer security, provided by HTTPS. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is essentially HTTP with encryption. It uses protocols like TLS (Transport Layer Security) or its predecessor SSL to encrypt the communication channel between your browser (the client) and the website's server.
Here's how it works:
- When you connect to a website using HTTPS (look for
https://in the URL and often a padlock icon), your browser and the server perform a handshake process. - During this handshake, they agree on encryption keys.
- All data sent between your browser and the server thereafter, including the data sent via a POST request containing your password, is encrypted using these keys.
- If someone intercepts the data packets during transmission, they will only see scrambled, unreadable information without the decryption key.
This ensures that even if your connection is monitored (e.g., on a public Wi-Fi network), your password remains protected.
POST vs. GET for Sending Passwords
While HTTPS provides the essential security, the choice between HTTP methods can still impact perceived security and how the data is handled before it's encrypted.
| Feature | GET Method | POST Method | Security Implications for Passwords (under HTTPS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Location | Appended to the URL (?key=value) |
Sent in the HTTP request body | GET data appears in URL (visible in browser history, server logs). POST data is in the body (not visible in URL/history). POST is preferred for passwords. |
| Data Limit | Limited by URL length | No practical limit | Less relevant for password size, but POST handles larger data. |
| Purpose | Requesting data | Submitting data (e.g., login) | POST is semantically correct for submitting login credentials. |
Even though HTTPS encrypts the entire request (including the URL for GET), using POST for passwords is still the recommended practice because it prevents the password from appearing in:
- Browser history
- Browser caches
- Web server logs (which often log the full URL)
- Referrer headers (when linking to another page)
Exposing passwords in these locations, even if the initial transmission was encrypted, creates unnecessary security risks.
Practical Insights
- Always Verify HTTPS: Before entering your password on any website, check that the URL starts with
https://and that there is a valid security certificate (usually indicated by a padlock icon). - Server-Side Security: While encrypted transmission is vital, the server must also handle the password securely (e.g., hashing and salting before storing). However, the security of the transmission relies on HTTPS and the POST method for preventing exposure before or after encryption.
- No Encryption, No Security: Without HTTPS, sending a password via any method (POST or GET) is highly insecure, as it would be transmitted in plain text, easily intercepted.
In summary, the POST method, when combined with the robust encryption provided by HTTPS (TLS), is the secure and standard way to transmit passwords online. The key security lies in the encryption of the communication channel, as highlighted by the reference.
