SSL - Secure Socket Layer
This stands for Secure Socket Layer.
This technology was originally developed by Netscape in 1996 and quickly became the standard for transferring data securely over the world wide web. The main application being to secure the transfer of data from web browsers to web servers and visa-versa.
This technology now forms a big part of most web browsers and servers.
SSL uses public and private key encryption which was originally developed by RSA and is now widely used.
For a connection to be secured over the world wide web, the Secure Socket Layer protocol says that the server must have a valid SSL certificate installed.
The certificate is a file, installed on your web server in order to uniquely identify it and the owner. This binds the server to the web site owner, thus insuring they are who they say they are.
SSL certificates provide added protection by :
- Encryption - When data is encrypted, it is made unintelligible to everyone except the receiver, who has the keys to make it readable.
- Authentication. The installed certificate is bound to a specific domain name and the authority issuing the certificate will make a number of checks ensuring and confirming the owners before issuing the certificate Once issued the certificate can only be installed on that specific domain name thus providing e-commerce shoppers with more confidence when dealing with the site.
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