Facebook banks on default https for safer data transfer

HTTPS is secured hypertext transfer protocol that adds a layer of encryption to transferred data, making it harder for ill-intentioned parties to take a peek.

Facebook users have already been able to opt in for HTTPS connections for over a year via their settings page, but Facebook is now working on turning it into the default setting for all users, starting with accounts based in the US. 

Many other online services have adopted the same protocol, such as Twitter.