Web server configuration analysis and testing service for diagnosing, validating and resolving TLS/SSL certificate installation errors.
SSL is an abbreviation and stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It is a cryptographic protocol that provides secure communication between a web server and a web browser. SSL encrypts all communication between the server and the browser, so that if anyone intercepts the communication it is unreadable.
SSL is the predecessor to TLS (another abbreviation which standas for Transport Layer Security). TLS is a more modern and secure protocol than SSL, and it is the protocol that is currently used by most websites.
When you visit a website that is using SSL, your browser will send a message to the server asking for the website's SSL certificate. The server will then send the certificate back to the browser. The browser will then verify the certificate to make sure that it is valid. If the certificate is valid, the browser will establish a secure connection with the server.
A secure HTTPS connection to a domain (website) with a valid SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority ensures that all communication between your web browser and the website is encrypted and secure. This means that your personal information, such as your credit card number and password, cannot be intercepted and read by third parties.
This process is also called 'handshake' and it involves the following steps:
Once the handshake is complete, the client and the server can communicate securely.