HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS)  is a policy mechanism that allows a web server to enforce the use of TLS in a compliant User Agent (UA), such as a web browser. HSTS allows for a more effective implementation of TLS by ensuring all communication takes place over a secure transport layer on the client side. Most notably HSTS mitigates variants of man in the middle (MiTM) attacks where TLS can be stripped out of communications with a server, leaving a user vulnerable to further risk.

HSTS has been a highly anticipated and a much needed solution to the problems of HTTP being the default protocol for a UA and the lack of an ability for a host to reliably enforce secure communications. For any site that issues permanent redirects to HTTPS the addition of the HSTS response header is a much safer way of enforcing secure communications for compliant UAs. By preventing the UA from sending even the very first request via HTTP, HSTS removes the only opportunity a MiTM has to gain a foothold in a secure transport layer.

 

How to enable HSTS?

If you have access only to .htaccess then this is the only option (assuming you run Apache, just like Strato is doing):

 

<IfModule mod_headers.c>
Header set Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains; preload" env=HTTPS
</IfModule>

 

How to verify that it works?

https://hstspreload.org/

Note: do not submit your site if you have subdomains without SSL certificate!

 

https://securityheaders.io/

Note that I will write another post for all headers.

 

 

Disclaimer:

A lot of this content is coming from here: https://scotthelme.co.uk/hsts-the-missing-link-in-tls/

© Copyright 2017 Sorin Mustaca, All rights Reserved. Written For: Sorin Mustaca on Cybersecurity

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