What is the difference between SSL and TLS?

What is the difference between SSL and TLS?

Network security is a very important part of today's Internet, which involves the security of private data. SSL and TLS are two common network protocols that allow data to be transmitted securely over the Internet. Although their common goal is to ensure network security, there are some important differences between SSL and TLS.

Definition and functions of SSL and TLS

SSL (Secure Socket Protocol) is a protocol used for network security to ensure that data is not transmitted over the Internet. Eavesdropping, tampering or forgery. SSL uses encryption and decryption technology to protect data, and it can be added to various protocols such as HTTP, SMTP, and Telnet.

TLS (Transport Layer Security) is an upgraded version of the SSL protocol, which provides a higher level of encryption and stronger security. TLS is developed from SSL3.0. The main purpose of TLS is to provide encrypted communications to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and authentication of data during transmission.

The difference between SSL and TLS

1. Security level

TLS provides a higher level of encryption and stronger security than SSL. TLS can use 256-bit keys and more secure encryption algorithms to provide a better and more secure level of security. It encrypts data more reliably to prevent it from being cracked. TLS's security level is not only higher, but also more durable, so it is widely used in the network.

2. Handshake phase

The beginning phases of SSL and TLS are also different. The SSL protocol uses a plaintext connection. The data is transmitted first, and then it is decided which encryption method to use. There are some security risks with this approach, as the data can be eavesdropped by an attacker during clear text transmission. In contrast, the TLS protocol uses a truly encrypted connection to protect data transmission. All communications are encrypted before the connection is established. This makes TLS more secure and reliable.

3. Connection method

SSL and TLS connection methods are different. SSL uses a handshake protocol to associate connections and authentication, but this approach is not secure. Therefore, connections using the SSL protocol are vulnerable to hackers. TLS uses a signature-based handshake protocol, which uses zero or more messages to verify identity and negotiate algorithms when establishing a connection. This connection protocol is more secure and reliable.

Summary

SSL and TLS are both protocols responsible for network security and are designed to ensure that data transmitted over the Internet is protected. However, TLS has a higher security level, better encryption, and uses a signature-based handshake protocol, making it a more secure and reliable protocol.

For websites that use the SSL protocol, you should now establish a secure connection through TLS1.2 or TLS1.3. In daily life, understanding the difference between SSL and TLS can help us better protect the security of our personal information and data on the Internet.