Web Security

The Essence of SSL/TLS: Safeguarding Digital Communications In today’s digital landscape, securing online communications is paramount. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and its successor, Transport Layer Security (TLS), are cryptographic protocols designed to provide secure communication over computer networks. The widespread implementation of HTTPS (over 90% of the top 1,000 websites adopted it by early 2021) highlights the critical role these protocols play in ensuring that our data remains safe and private while traveling across the internet. This adoption underscores the growing importance of understanding the mechanisms that protect online data,…

Understanding SSL and TLS—Foundations of Secure Internet Communication Introduction to SSL and TLS Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and its successor, Transport Layer Security (TLS), are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over the Internet. They are fundamental in protecting data integrity and privacy between web applications and servers. The Evolution from SSL to TLS SSL was developed by Netscape in the mid-1990s to secure internet communications. However, due to various security vulnerabilities, SSL has been deprecated in favor of TLS, which offers enhanced security features and performance improvements. TLS has…

Introduction to PKI Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a framework that enables secure, encrypted communication over networks. It uses a combination of hardware, software, policies, and standards to manage digital certificates and public-key encryption. PKI ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data exchanged between parties.  Core Components of PKI Certificate Authority (CA): A trusted entity that issues and manages digital certificates.  Registration Authority (RA): Acts as a mediator between the user and the CA, verifying the user’s identity before a certificate is issued.  Digital Certificates: Electronic documents that use…