Networking Secure Protocols

Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) are cryptographic protocols designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. TLS/SSL encrypts data transmitted between clients and servers, ensuring that sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal data cannot be intercepted or read by unauthorized parties. The protocol works by establishing an encrypted connection through a process called the TLS handshake, where the client and server authenticate each other and agree on encryption algorithms and keys. Once the handshake is complete, all data transmitted is encrypted using symmetric encryption, which is faster and more efficient than asymmetric encryption. TLS/SSL is essential for securing web traffic, email, and other network communications. Modern browsers display a padlock icon when a website uses HTTPS (HTTP over TLS), indicating that the connection is secure. Understanding TLS/SSL is crucial for cybersecurity professionals as many attacks target weaknesses in certificate validation, protocol versions, or cipher suites.