SSL/TLS
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor TLS (Transport Layer Security) are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over a computer network. SSL/TLS encrypts the connection between a web browser and server.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor TLS (Transport Layer Security) are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over a computer network. They encrypt the connection between a web browser and server, protecting sensitive data from interception. When a website has an SSL/TLS certificate, it uses HTTPS instead of HTTP. The padlock icon in browsers indicates an encrypted connection. SSL certificates must be issued by trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs) like Let's Encrypt (free), DigiCert, Comodo, or GlobalSign. SSL/TLS certificates come in different validation levels: Domain Validation (DV, basic), Organization Validation (OV, verified organization), and Extended Validation (EV, highest verification). Modern browsers also show trust indicators for EV certificates in the address bar.