SSL Last modified: Friday, October 24, 2008
(pronounced as separate letters) Short for Secure Sockets Layer, a protocol developed by Netscape for transmitting private documents via the Internet. SSL uses a cryptographic system that uses two keys to encrypt data − a public key known to everyone and a private or secret key known only to the recipient of the message. Both Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer support SSL, and many Web sites use the protocol to obtain confidential user information, such as credit card numbers. By convention, URLs that require an SSL connection start with https: instead of http:. Another protocol for transmitting data securely over the World Wide Web is Secure HTTP (S-HTTP). Whereas SSL creates a secure connection between a client and a server, over which any amount of data can be sent securely, S-HTTP is designed to transmit individual messages securely. SSL and S-HTTP, therefore, can be seen as complementary rather than competing technologies. Both protocols have been approved by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) as a standard. See our "Do It Yourself SSL Guide" in the Did You Know...? section of Webopedia. Also see "SSL: Your Key to E-commerce Security" in Webopedia's Did You Know...? section.
•E-mail this definition to a colleague• For internet.com pages about SSL . Also check out the following links! DRM Watch  Analysis of digital rights management technology. VeriSign SSL Certificate Page  VeriSign offers Secure Site Services designed to apply encryption to e-commerce transactions and transmission of confidential information. Webopedia's "Did You Know...SSL: Your Key to E-commerce Security"  SSL is all about encryption. SSL encrypts data, like credit cards numbers (as well other personally identifiable information), which prevents the "bad guys" from stealing your information for malicious intent. Webopedia's Quick Reference Section  Use this Webopedia reference section for information on common Internet and computer facts and occurrences. Apache-SSL Describes Apache-SSL, a secure Webserver, based on Apache and SSLeay/OpenSSL. Secured Transmission (SSL , HTTPS) An open, non-proprietary protocol is perhaps the most common way of providing encrypted transmission of data between Web browsers and Web servers. Security and Encryption Links Comprehensive collection of security related links. SSL Certificate Authority InstantSSL is a low cost SSL Certificate Authority that provides High Assurance, fully validated SSL Certificates. WeBTrust Online Shopping Safety for Consumers Trust Services recommends the following online shopping safety and privacy protection tips to help ensure that your Web experience is fun and safe.	Digital Rights Management (DRM) Electronic Commerce Internet Protocols Online Selling Security World Wide Web digital certificate digital signature digital wallet ECML IETF IPsec security S-HTTP WTLS X.509 Give Us Your Feedback Shopping SSL Products Compare Products,Prices and Stores Shop by Category: Firewalls 150 Model Matches Networking Hubs and Switches 234 Model Matches Software 6 Store Offers Tape Drives 23 Model Matches