Secure Sockets Layer
(SSL) is a protocol that provides network security and privacy. Developed
by Netscape Communications, SSL uses encryption algorithms that include
RC2, RC4, DES, TripleDES, IDEA, MD5, and others. In addition to
providing encryption services, SSL uses trusted certificates to perform
client and server authentication, and it uses message authentication
codes to ensure data integrity. SSL is supported by both Firefox and
Internet Explorer.
This documentation assumes
that you have a basic understanding of SSL and that you know how to
obtain and use trusted certificates. See your Web application server's
documentation for SSL implementation details at the following Web
sites:
Note: Transport Layer Security
(TLS) is the successor to SSL V3.0. The Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF) adopted SSL V3.0 as the de facto standard and renamed
it TLS. Throughout this document, any reference to SSL also applies
to TLS.