What is a Secure Sockets Layer? (SSL)

In today's digital world, security is a priority for any website handling sensitive data. This is where SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) plays a critical role. Originally developed by Netscape in 1995, SSL was designed to ensure authentication, privacy, and data integrity in Internet communications. It works by encrypting the connection between a user's browser and a website, making sure that information remains safe from cyber threats.

Over time, SSL evolved into TLS, the modern encryption protocol widely used today. If a website has SSL/TLS enabled, you'll notice "HTTPS" in the page URL instead of "HTTP." This small yet significant change signals that the site implements advanced security measures to protect users’ information.