urlsplithttpse

urlsplithttps is a protocol handler extension for web browsers that allows users to split web URLs into specific components. This extension became notable in 2008, as it automatically splits URLs into plain HTTP and HTTPS components, allowing users to bypass SSL/TLS certificate errors and potentially load an unencrypted version of the site.

The urlsplithttps extension achieves this by interpreting the suggested scheme of the URL as it appears on the address bar and inserting either 'http://' or 'https://' in front of the URL, thus allowing users to access the website through an unsecured connection. This is achieved by modifying how the browser resolves URLs containing a scheme, which normally indicates whether the site should load through a secure connection.

Users have highlighted both the benefits and drawbacks of this extension. On the one hand, it provides users with the option to bypass network restrictions that prevent users from accessing specific websites via its bare domain name. On the other hand, it compromises website security, reducing the amount of encrypted connections made between user's browsers and the websites they visit.

Security officials have warned that using such workarounds can compromise online security. SSL/TLS certificates serve to verify the ownership and identity of a website, providing a safe communication channel between a user's browser and the sites they visit. By bypassing this security measure, websites open up the risk of receiving unauthorized digital eavesdropping and full on-site data encryption interception, ultimately diminishing user security online.

The use of urlsplithttps, it is thought, would render certain SSL/TLS certificate errors as largely related to attribute misordering rather than the processing of said certificate, redefining the properties and trustworthiness to lenders of encrypted websites.