What is SSL?

Overview
In order to process transactions securely on the web we need to be able to transmit information between the web site and the customer in a manner that makes it difficult for other people to intercept and read. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is a technical standard for transferring private information, documents and files over the internet. There are many encryption strengths. A 128 bit encryption (common), provides millions of possible decryption answers, which ensures that your information will stay protected and maintains its safety even if intercepted by a third party while in transit.

How does it work?

A customer contacts your site and accesses a secured URL: a page secured by a Server ID (indicated by a URL that begins with "https:" instead of just "http:").

Your server responds, automatically sending the customer your site's digital certificate, which authenticates your site.

Your customer's Web browser generates a unique "session key" code to encrypt all communications with the site.

The user's browser encrypts the session key with the your site's public key so only your site can read the session key.

A secure session is now established - all communications will be encrypted and can only be decrypted by the two parties in the session.

General Uses

There are many uses for transferring information through a SSL connection, but most are for credit card number transfers and sending personal & private information over the internet.