CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Adult video-on-demand giant AEBN today said it would integrate HTTPS across its theater system.
AEBN’s Bishop said that AEBN has been working diligently to integrate SSL/TLS protocol (secure sockets layer and transport layer security) encryption between web servers and browsers to ensure that all customer data remains private. HTTPS provides authentication of the website and associated servers and protects against man-in-the-middle attacks.
"As most of you are probably aware, the latest web browser releases are starting to display prominent warnings to users if a website is not loading on HTTPS pages," Bishop said. "We began the security upgrade in February, and we continue to move theaters over to SSL.
“This upgrade affects thousands of active theaters, and while the highest-volume theaters have been completed, the process will continue for some time before we are finished. We strive to ensure that each and every site is 100 percent secure."
AEBN, known by many as the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network, has offered adult VOD to consumers through a large worldwide network of affiliate partners. AEBN maintains distribution rights through thousands of content partners, offering straight, gay, fetish and niche content.
More adult entertainment sites are switching over to the more secure HTTPS. With HTTPS, users see a green padlock in the upper left-hand corner of their browsers, indicating a secured view where others can’t see what they are looking at.
Experts for years have said that without the secure protocol, adult sites of all sizes have suffered security breaches that have resulted in pirated content, exposed user databases and millions of dollars in lost income.
Last week, two of the internet’s largest adult tube sites — PornHub.com and YouPorn.com — planned to switch over to HTTPS.
News of AEBN switching over to HTTPS raised the attention of Eric Paul Leue, the Free Speech Coalition's executive director.
"We're thrilled to see another major player in adult entertainment moving to the secure HTTPS platform," Leue told XBIZ. "When companies like AEBN move to HTTPS, it moves the entire industry forward.
"Thanks to our partnership with the Center for Democracy and Technology, and the HTTPS initiative we launched with them last fall, even smaller Free Speech Coalition members now have access to vast resources and direct contacts that can help them secure their sites more easily."
