SSL Approach to Security SSL mandates the channel of communication between two parties as private and authenticated and encrypts the entire data stream between the browser and server. There is no negotiation between browsers and servers concerning applying security characteristics to individual documents. Relative Advantages of SSL SSL provides for private communications. SSL with HTTP can include usernames and passwords in encrypted messages for authentication purposes. This means that the server provides some browsers unencrypted information and others with encrypted information.
Some browsers display security icons that indicate whether a transaction is secure.
Transaction Security on an Open Network Secure systems on an open network rely on encryption, authentication, and integrity support to provide transaction security. Encryption ensures against eavesdroppers, authentication ensures against impostors, and integrity ensures against modified messages. Encryption Support Encryption transforms data into a form that can be read only by persons who have a key to decrypt the data. Encryption ensures privacy by keeping information hidden from anyone for whom the information is not intended. For example, the Widget Works company might have an opportunity to provide super widgets for a large trade show and wants to submit a bid over the public network.