The Secure Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (SHTTP) is another web protocol, which compensates for those aspects that the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) lacks. It is an open standard developed by the Enterprise Integration Technologies (EIT) in 1994. It gives additional security features such as digital signatures and data encryption along with communication channels and the necessary authentication that SSL already has.

However, this application program will work only if both the Web browser and the server are able to support it. Currently, the Internet Explorer, Netscape and the SPRY Mosaic are those browsers that are supporting the SHTTP. In addition, the parameters concerning authentication, digital signatures, encryption and communication apply for its proper use. Thus, the SHTTP is more reliable than the SSL because it supports non-repudiable transactions.

Further, the SHTTP could become a popular protocol because of its ability to support digital signatures and its security features are implemented depending on the needs of both the customer and the particular type of business. In addition, the SHTTP is very efficient because it does not give out the technicalities behind its various features, which enables the customer to identify him or her and avoid breach of security. As a result, sometimes the browsers might not be able to communicate properly with the servers. SHTTP is based on web pages and thus it is useful only for online use.

All the best forex trade platforms use the SHTTP standards in one way or the other. With the emerging threats through the World Wide Web, it makes better business sense, to shore up security than to spend extra money to make up for the loss incurred. All over the world, newer protocols are continuously emerging and those protocols applied earlier are being thoroughly upgraded. The threat perception is such that once a protocol is deemed vulnerable, its alternative must be given the utmost priority.