HTTP Strict Transport Security vs HTTP Public Key Pinning

Developers should implement HSTS when building or maintaining websites that handle sensitive data, such as login credentials, payment information, or personal details, to prevent attackers from intercepting or manipulating traffic meets developers should learn hpkp to understand historical web security practices and the evolution of certificate validation, as it was used to mitigate risks from compromised certificate authorities. Here's our take.

HTTP Strict Transport Security

Nice Pick

Developers should implement HSTS when building or maintaining websites that handle sensitive data, such as login credentials, payment information, or personal details, to prevent attackers from intercepting or manipulating traffic

Pros

• It is particularly crucial for e-commerce sites, banking platforms, and any service requiring user authentication, as it mitigates risks like SSL stripping and session hijacking
• Related to: https, ssl-tls

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

HTTP Public Key Pinning

Developers should learn HPKP to understand historical web security practices and the evolution of certificate validation, as it was used to mitigate risks from compromised Certificate Authorities

Pros

• It's relevant for security audits, legacy system maintenance, or studying alternatives like Certificate Transparency and Expect-CT headers, which address similar threats without HPKP's operational hazards
• Related to: tls, https

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use HTTP Strict Transport Security if: You want it is particularly crucial for e-commerce sites, banking platforms, and any service requiring user authentication, as it mitigates risks like ssl stripping and session hijacking and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use HTTP Public Key Pinning if: You prioritize it's relevant for security audits, legacy system maintenance, or studying alternatives like certificate transparency and expect-ct headers, which address similar threats without hpkp's operational hazards over what HTTP Strict Transport Security offers.

The Bottom Line

HTTP Strict Transport Security wins

Developers should implement HSTS when building or maintaining websites that handle sensitive data, such as login credentials, payment information, or personal details, to prevent attackers from intercepting or manipulating traffic