🔒 Definition— SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is a protocol used to encrypt and secure Internet communications. It ensures that data transferred between users and the website remains private and secure.
🔑 Features— The working principle of SSL is to use encryption algorithms to encrypt data during transmission to prevent unauthorized access. This process involves an SSL handshake, which establishes a secure connection between the web server and the browser.
📜 Evolution— SSL has evolved into TLS (Transport Layer Security), which is the current standard for secure communications. Despite this, the term SSL is still widely used.
🔍 Importance— SSL certificates authenticate a website’s identity and enable encrypted connections, which is critical for protecting sensitive information like credit card numbers and personal data.
🌐 HTTPS — Websites protected with SSL certificates display HTTPS in their URLs to indicate connection security. This is critical for user trust and data protection.
SSL certificate type
🔍 Domain Verification (DV) — This type of SSL certificate requires minimal verification and is usually used for blogs or information websites. It provides basic encryption and can be obtained quickly.
🏢 Organizational Validation (OV) — OV credentials require more extensive validation, including verifying the organization’s identity. They are used on commercial websites to ensure data confidentiality.
🔑 Extended Validation (EV) — EV credentials provide the highest level of security and require a rigorous verification process. They increase trust by displaying the company name in the browser bar.
🌐 Wildcard SSL — This certificate protects the domain and its subdomains, making it cost-effective for sites with multiple subdomains.
🔗 Multi-domain SSL — These certificates, also known as SAN certificates, allow multiple domains to be protected with a single certificate, making them ideal for businesses that manage multiple websites.
SSL handshake process
🤝 Initial connection— The SSL handshake begins when a browser or server attempts to connect to a website protected by SSL.
📜 Certificate exchange— The web server sends its SSL certificate to the browser, and the browser checks its validity and authenticity.
🔑 Key exchange— If the certificate is trusted, the browser and server agree on an encryption key to secure the session.
🔒 Secure Session— Establish a secure, encrypted session so data is transferred securely between the browser and server.
⚠️ Error handling— If the handshake fails, the connection will be terminated and an error message will be displayed to the user.
Benefits of SSL
🔒 Data Protection— SSL encrypts data to ensure that sensitive information such as login credentials and credit card details cannot be eavesdropped.
🛡️ Identity Verification— SSL certificates verify the identity of the website and prevent attackers from setting up fake websites to steal user information.
🔍SEO advantages— Websites with SSL certificates are favored by search engines and may improve their search rankings.
💼 Supervision Compliance— SSL helps businesses comply with data protection regulations, such as PCI DSS for online transactions.
👥 User trust— The presence of SSL (indicated by HTTPS and the padlock icon) reassures users that their data is secure, thereby increasing their confidence in the website.