Should I really be concerned about Internet privacy?
Of course you should. The connection between you and any other point on the Internet can be sent through dozens of independent systems, any of which can easily be monitored. You should consider non-encrypted email, web browsing, chatting.
What does SSL mean to me, the average Internet user?
When you come across a web page that is secured, your browser will display a `closed lock´ or other symbol to inform you that SSL has been enabled. You can also tell because the web site address should now start with "https://" rather than the usual "http://".
SSL allows a secure connection between your web browser and a web server. This secure information `tunnel´ was developed by Netscape Communications and RSA Security. SSL is being widely adopted by numerous companies for other client/server uses other than web surfing.
What do the letters `SSL´ stand for again?
Secure Sockets Layer.
So who uses SSL today?
Almost all web-based online purchases and monetary transactions are now secured by SSL. When you submit your credit card information to purchase products from The Worm Man, the order form information is sent through this secure service so that only the staff at The Worm Man can have access to the information sent
You may also be familiar with online banking. All financial institutions use SSL to secure the transmission of your PIN number and other confidential account data.
difference may not be noticeable on a single page, but if all of a website´s pages were encrypted, performance could be significantly reduced.
