This sounds like a networking 101 question until you realize they want the security angle specifically.
Structure your answer as a chronological journey from the browser to the server and back, highlighting security mechanisms at each layer. Focus on the key protocols (DNS, TLS, HTTP) and how they work together to provide confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. Emphasize trade-offs and Amazon-relevant considerations like scalability and defense in depth.
Pro tip: Mention that DNS itself can be secured with DNSSEC to prevent spoofing, and that modern browsers use mechanisms like HSTS and Certificate Transparency to mitigate attacks. This shows depth beyond the basics.
Explain how the browser resolves google.com to an IP address, including DNS lookups, caching, and security measures like DNSSEC and DNS over HTTPS.
Describe the TCP three-way handshake and the TLS handshake, focusing on certificate validation, key exchange, and cipher suite negotiation.
Cover the HTTP request sent over the encrypted channel, including headers like HSTS, and the server's response with security headers (e.g., Content-Security-Policy).
Discuss how the browser handles the response, enforces same-origin policy, and protects against XSS and other client-side attacks.
Mention continuous security measures like certificate revocation checks, session management, and logging for anomaly detection.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.