HTTPS

HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts browser-server communication using TLS, preventing eavesdropping, tampering, and impersonation. Browsers show an icon in the address bar to indicate that the connection is encrypted; the icon itself differs by browser and version.

QR codes should always contain https:// URLs. HTTP URLs leave post-scan communication unencrypted. Nearly all major websites now support HTTPS, and Google includes it as a search ranking factor.