Nginx · December 18, 2023

Nginx for Newbie: enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS)

Nginx for Newbie: Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS)

When it comes to web server software, Nginx is a popular choice among developers and system administrators. Known for its high performance, scalability, and flexibility, Nginx is widely used to serve static content, reverse proxy, and load balance web applications. In this article, we will explore how to enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) on Nginx, a crucial security feature that helps protect websites from certain types of attacks.

What is HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS)?

HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) is a security policy mechanism that allows websites to instruct web browsers to only communicate with them over secure HTTPS connections. It helps prevent downgrade attacks, where an attacker tries to intercept or manipulate the communication between a user's browser and a website by downgrading the connection from HTTPS to HTTP.

By enabling HSTS, websites can ensure that all subsequent requests from the user's browser are automatically redirected to HTTPS, even if the user manually enters an HTTP URL or clicks on an HTTP link. This helps protect sensitive information, such as login credentials or personal data, from being transmitted over insecure connections.

Enabling HSTS on Nginx

To enable HSTS on Nginx, you need to add the appropriate HTTP response header to your server configuration. Here's an example of how to do it:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name example.com;

    location / {
        return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
    }

    # Enable HSTS for one year
    add_header Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains" always;
}

In the above configuration, we first redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS using a 301 redirect. This ensures that all requests are automatically redirected to the secure version of the website. Then, we add the "Strict-Transport-Security" header with the "max-age" directive set to one year (31536000 seconds) and the "includeSubDomains" directive to include all subdomains of the website.

After making the necessary changes to your Nginx configuration, don't forget to reload or restart the Nginx service for the changes to take effect.

Testing HSTS

Once you have enabled HSTS on your Nginx server, you can test if it is working correctly by visiting your website using different browsers. Here's how you can check:

  • Open your website in a browser.
  • Open the browser's developer tools (usually by right-clicking and selecting "Inspect" or pressing F12).
  • Navigate to the "Network" tab.
  • Reload the page.
  • Look for the "Strict-Transport-Security" header in the response headers. It should include the "max-age" directive and other specified options.

If the "Strict-Transport-Security" header is present and correctly configured, your website is successfully using HSTS.

Summary

In conclusion, enabling HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) on your Nginx server is an important step in securing your website and protecting your users' data. By instructing web browsers to only communicate over secure HTTPS connections, HSTS helps prevent downgrade attacks and ensures that sensitive information is transmitted securely. To enable HSTS on Nginx, add the appropriate HTTP response header to your server configuration and test it to ensure it is working correctly.

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