A bank's website can use HTTP or HTTPS.
Explain one benefit to a customer of the bank's website using HTTPS.
Mark scheme
Award up to two marks for a linked explanation such as:
- Data is encrypted/scrambled (1) so it cannot be read/understood if it is intercepted (1)
- The customer's bank/personal details are kept secure/private (1) because the data is encrypted/scrambled during transmission (1)
- The customer's login details/password cannot be read by an eavesdropper (1) because HTTPS encrypts/scrambles the data sent to and from the web server (1)
For both marks, the expansion must follow/associate with the statement.
Allow 'scrambled' as an alternative to 'encrypted'.
Do not accept 'it is more secure/safe' or 'the data is secure' on its own, without saying how it is made secure (e.g. encryption/scrambling).
Do not accept faster loading/speed, or claims that HTTPS stops viruses or always proves the website is genuine.
Example answers and how they were marked
The data is encrypted (1) so anyone intercepting it cannot read the customer's bank details (1).
Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): encryption means intercepted data cannot be read.
The data is encrypted (1) so the website is secure.
Why: Point (1) for encryption, but 'secure' on its own is a near-miss that the mark scheme does not credit as the linked reason; it must say why, e.g. that intercepted data cannot be read.
HTTPS is faster than HTTP (0) so the customer can log in more quickly.
Why: Speed is not a benefit of HTTPS and is named in a 'Do not accept' line, so no creditworthy point is given.