Whenever you transfer any file from the web server to your local
disk, the data has to go across the internet through wires and
sometimes through air. The data that travels through the internet
often travels in unencrypted form. A hacker with sufficient knowledge,
technology, and access to compromized system is able to intercept these
transmissions as they go across the internet and hence see your data.
Depending on the type of data that is being transmitted, this may or
may not be a concern. Credit card numbers, for example, should never be transmitted across the internet in unencrypted form. PCI compliance indicates that it should be transmitted in encrypted form. Hackers still can intercept the data. But because it is encrypted, they can not view and they can not unencrypt it.
Here are some ways to transmit file, data, or information in "encrypted" form ...
1. Make sure the web application that you are using is transmitting over https instead of just http. Difference between HTTP and HTTPS.
2. If the website in question is your website and you want to make it transmit over HTTPS, then you need to purchase an apply an SSL certificate on your web hosting.
3. If you are downloading files, do using in Secured FTP instead of regular FTP.
