Why can't I simply use the HTTP protocol to download files from GitHub via the command line?

GitHub only supports the HTTPS protocol, so any command-line download method relying on HTTP will fail. As detailed in [Penetration Techniques - Multiple Methods for Downloading Files from GitHub](/news/penetration-techniques-multiple-methods-for-downloading-files-from-github), tools like certutil, bitsadmin, and PowerShell work with HTTPS, while others such as some VBScript approaches require switching to objects that support HTTPS, like Msxml2.ServerXMLHTTP.6.0 or WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5.1.