SSL

A security protocol developed by Netscape Communications Corporation, SSL includes authentication and negotiates point-to-point security between client and server, including type of encryption scheme and exchange of encryption keys. SSL sends messages over a socket, which is a secure channel at the connection layer and existing in virtually every TCP/IP application. Although SSL can accommodate a number of encryption algorithms, Netscape has licensed RSA end-to-end public key encryption, as well as key creation and certification. Unlike S-HTTP, SSL is application independent and works with all Internet tools, not just the World Wide Web (WWW). SSL has emerged as a de facto standard. See also authentication, client, de facto, encryption, Internet, protocol, public key encryption, RSA, server, S-HTTP, socket, standard, TCP/IP, and WWW.