What is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)?

Q: What is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)?

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a cryptographic protocol designed to secure and facilitate secure data transfer between clients, such as web browsers, and servers.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a cryptographic protocol designed to secure and facilitate secure data transfer between clients, such as web browsers, and servers. SSL provides confidentiality and integrity of the data being transmitted by encrypting sensitive information to protect it from unauthorized access.

The SSL technology has become essential in today's online world where cyber threats are rampant. With the increasing use of e-commerce websites and online transactions, protecting sensitive information like credit card details has become crucial. SSL helps ensure that this information stays private.

To use an analogy, imagine sending a postcard with your credit card number on it through regular mail - anyone who sees the postcard en route can easily read your information. Adding SSL to your website or server is similar to putting that postcard inside an envelope with a lock – only those authorized parties with the key can open it and read its contents.

The Advantages of Using SSL

Implementing Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) on websites comes with several advantages:

Data Protection: By encrypting all data transmitted between users' browsers and websites' servers, client-side attacks using man-in-the-middle techniques or other types of eavesdropping can be prevented.
Credibility: Implementing SSL adds credibility to your website or business since sensitive user data will be handled securely over encrypted connections.
Better Search Engine Ranking: Websites implemented using https:// protocol, which requires an SSL certificate installed on them generally rank higher in search engines than their non-secured counterparts.

The Process Behind Setting Up An SSL Connection

To set up a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection for a website, there are several steps involved:

Obtaining an SSL Certificate: A certificate can be obtained from a trusted third-party issuer or self-signed. Trusted issuers include companies like GlobalSign, Comodo, and Symantec.
Install the SSL Certificate on Server: Once you have obtained the SSL certificate, it needs to be installed in your web server (e.g., Apache).
Making Changes to Website's Codebase:You'll need to update your website's codebase so that all appropriate pages/resources are loaded using https:// protocol instead of http:// The change applies commonly to URLs in stylesheets, images and other external references.

The process behind setting up Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) may seem complex at first glance; however once everything has been set up correctly users will enjoy more secure browsing experiences without any noticeable performance slowdowns. In fact HTTPS is often faster due to new technological advancements called "HTTP/2".