SSL & TLS | What Are Cryptographic Protocols | Explained

The internet is a very vast topic and internet security is even more. But when it comes to security on the internet it is something that cannot be overlooked. Basically, data transfer is made safe because of cryptographic protocols which provide a secure connection between a Computer Network. In easy words, it is an intermediate path used to transfer data from a computer to a server computer where no third person can steal or peak into the data transfer taking place. There are many Cryptographic Protocols with confusing names like SSL, TLS, ECC, SHA and many more. But the main two which is the one we get asked about the most are SSL & TLS.

• SSL (Secure Socket Layer)
• TLS (Transfer Layer Security)

SSL and TLS both are a cryptographic protocol. They are used in websites, emails, money transactions, and even on the social media platforms. In your browser, you can tell when you are using a secure protocol, such as TLS, in a couple of different ways. You will notice that the "HTTP" in the address line is replaced with "https" and you should see a small green colored lock in the URL bar at the top of your browser window.

Cryptographic connections are secure because symmetric cryptographic algorithms are used to encrypt the transmitted data. Every time when data is transmitted, a new key for symmetric encryption is generated uniquely for that connection and a unique code of the data is created at the start of the session. When the data reaches its destination it is decrypted to original information as it was before transmission. The transition of data in this whole process is both secure and reliable which means no attacker can modify the data during the transmission without being detected.

SSL / TLS

Netscape found a more secure way for public-key encryption which is known as the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). SSL is a part of an overall security protocol known as Transport Layer Security (TLS). For a webpage to provide an SSL connection, it is mandatory that they should have  SSL certificate. The presence of  SSL protocol and an encrypted session declares that the session is secure by cryptographic protocols. 

Another most widely used security protocol used today is used for providing online privacy and data integrity between two communicating devices/servers is TLS (Transfer Layer Security). TLS is used by Web browsers, servers, apps. There are many examples where data is transmitted securely using TLS protocols such as VPN, Information Sharing(online), Voice Calls, Messaging Apps

Why Cryptographic Protocols

One may ask, why there is a need for cryptographic protocols? The most relevant answer for this is security. For Example, When you send a snap of yourself to your friend you Nobody would like other people to see their private information. Whenever they pay money online.

Today the internet has become an opportunity for business in online commerce. However, this growth has also attracted attackers and cybercriminals who are eagerly waiting to steal our personal information and card details.Nowadays, Anyone having little bit knowledge about SQL or IP can easily intercept and read the traffic unless the connection between a client and a web server is encrypted. For being secure in this online world these cryptographic protocols are needed. They are the savior of the disease known as cybercrime.