Both SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are the foundations of a secure connection for communication across an unsecured network. At present, over 90% of internet traffic across Google is being encrypted, according to the Google Transparency Report.
However, the problem is that there are many confusions on how they are related, and how they are different.
SSL and TLS: Similarities
SSL and TLS are similar in terms of the security they offer. Both ensure that your data is secured with encryption when exchanged over the internet. They also assure that the site you are visiting is the one you intend to communicate with and not a middleman snooping on your transactions. Further, any server installed with SSL or TLS is equipped with a certificate issued by a trusted third-party Certificate Authority like Entrust.
So, are these two protocols the same? Not completely.
SSL Vs TLS: Know the Differences
The main reason why SSL and TLS are different is that TLS is the successor protocol to SSL. Both are inoperable with one another. When it comes to SSL vs TLS, they are different in their alert messages, functions, record protocols, authentication of messages, and encryption strengths.
When it comes to SSL vs TLS, the key difference is how these protocols make secure communication.
SSL begins by applying security and goes forward into secured communication. Once it is installed, if a server wants to send data to the browser, they first negotiate an encryption connection to exchange session keys. Then the sender encrypts the data into an unreadable string along with the session key and sends it to the browser. The browser then decrypts the communication with its private key. It employs cryptographic technologies like symmetric and asymmetric algorithms, message authentication, and hashes digital signatures.
TLS, on the other hand, starts with an insecure “hello” message to the server and proceeds into a secured connection only after a successful handshake between TLS client and server. If the TLS handshake fails for any reason, the protocol will not establish a connection.
In both SSL and TLS certificates, all these processes happen in milliseconds without the fear of any 3rd party being able to interpret the data.
There are many differences between them and TLS version 1.3 (latest) has completely superseded SSL and become an excellent option for security and privacy.
Today’s websites increasingly require SSL encryption, as search engines and browsers continue to upsurge the consequences for unsafe websites. Your visitors are less likely to access or submit contact or payment information if they feel their data won’t be safe. Therefore, it is wise to keep adopting an SSL certificate to keep your site secure and communications private.
As I've mentioned earlier, today there is no difference between SSL and TLS certificates. Whether you call it an SSL certificate or TLS certificate, you are actually using a TLS certificate.
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This Article Was Written & published by Meena R, Senior Manager - IT, at Luminis Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd, India.
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