What Is The SSL Handshake
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a technology that provides a secure, encrypted connection between a web server and a web browser, ensuring that any sensitive information exchanged between the two is protected from unauthorized access. SSL is the predecessor of TLS (Transport Layer Security), but the two terms are often used interchangeably.
When a customer visits a website that uses SSL, their web browser will initiate an SSL Handshake with the web server. During this process, the web server will provide the web browser with a digital certificate that contains information about the website’s identity, such as the domain name, the name of the organization that owns the website, and the public key. The public key is used to encrypt the data that is sent from the web browser to the web server, and the private key is used to decrypt the data that is sent from the web server to the web browser.
The web browser will then verify the authenticity of the certificate using a trusted third-party certificate authority (CA), such as DigiCert or GlobalSign. The CA will verify that the website is who it claims to be by checking that the domain name in the certificate matches the domain name of the website, and that the organization that owns the website is a legitimate business.
Once the certificate is verified, the web browser and web server will establish an encrypted connection using a unique session key. The session key is a long, random string of characters that is used to encrypt and decrypt the data that is sent between the web browser and the web server. The session key is created by the web browser and the web server during the SSL Handshake, and it is discarded when the connection is closed.
Once the SSL Handshake is complete, any sensitive information exchanged between the web browser and web server is encrypted and decrypted using the session key. This makes it extremely difficult for any unauthorized third party to intercept and read the data, as they would not be able to decrypt it without the key. This keeps your customers safe by protecting sensitive information such as credit card numbers, personal information, and login credentials from being intercepted and stolen by cybercriminals.
It’s also worth noting that SSL also helps with the authenticity of the website, meaning that it helps to ensure that the website is who it claims to be by verifying the certificate. This is important because it prevents phishing attacks, where cybercriminals create fake websites that look like legitimate ones in order to steal sensitive information from unsuspecting customers. By ensuring that customers are interacting with the authentic website, SSL helps to protect them from phishing attacks.
Another way SSL helps with the authenticity of the website is by verifying that the website is using a valid SSL certificate. A website that is using a valid SSL certificate will display a padlock icon in the address bar of the web browser, and the website’s URL will begin with “https” instead of “http”. This gives customers a visual indication that the website is using SSL and that their information is being transmitted securely.
Additionally, SSL also helps to protect customer’s privacy by encrypting the data that is sent between the web browser and the web server. This ensures that any sensitive information that is transmitted, such as credit card numbers, personal information, and login credentials, is protected from eavesdropping. This is especially important when customers are accessing the website over a public Wi-Fi network, as it is much easier for cybercriminals to intercept and steal sensitive information when it is transmitted over an unsecured connection.
If you have purchased an SSL certificate, or if you are not sure if a website has a valid SSL certificate then it’s good to use online tools like an SSL certificate checker to ensure authenticity.
In conclusion, SSL technology is essential for keeping your customers safe when they access your website. It provides a secure, encrypted connection between the web server and the web browser, ensuring that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access. It also helps to ensure that the website is authentic.
