Secure Sockets Layer With increased use of electronic commerces, secure transactions are important. SSL protocol developed by Netscape for encrypted communication between clients and servers. Uses public-key cryptography. Clients can authenticate servers thrugh a certificate authority. Important as a client should not send credit card information to an unknown server.
Servers can authenticate clients in the same way.
SSL record protocol and SSL handshake protocol. SSL record format defines the format used to transmit data. Optionally authenticate client to the server. Use public-key encryption techniques to generate shared secrets. Establish encrypted SSL connection.