Until a
few years ago Internet security wasn't given much
thought. The Internet community encouraged the sharing
of data and ideas; the common goals of the Internet
users made boundaries and restrictions unnecessary-or so
it seemed at the time.
As the
Internet became more of a commercial tool, the need for
a secure method of online purchases and messages between
a customer and retailer became a necessity. This is
where the SSL (secure socket layer) encryption comes
into play.
SSL affects hackers the same way kryptonite affects Superman.
SSL
encryption is software that prevents anyone from
intercepting and reading data being transferred between
the customer and the retailer's database. So, SSL is
ideal for accepting sensitive information over the
Internet, such as credit-card numbers or access
passwords.
Secure
links between your computer and another computer over
the Internet are based on a code system called public
key encryption. When the computer forms a secure
connection over the Internet, it will be using the
communication protocol called SSL. You can be sure of
the secure connection by a picture of a key or a closed
padlock appearing at the bottom of your browser's
screen. Also, when your computer makes a secure link
through the Internet, the URL will begin with https//:
rather than http//: located in your browser's address
window.
Each
computer generates a set of codes, which encrypts the
information. From these codes, each computer generates
two "keys"--one private and one public. Your computer
keeps the private key secret, but sends out the public
key to the other computer, which uses that key to encode
messages that only your computer can read. Only the
private key can do the decoding. Through this process
only these two computers have a copy of the respective
keys.
SSL is
an enormous step towards making the Internet secure. The
level of security provided by SSL encryption can support
a variety of needs for the many different applications
available today. SSL is the standard for a secure method
in terms of privacy, integrity, and authenticity.
Which provides better protection--A secured internet
transaction or a physical transaction?
The
choice is easy! SSL encryption offers two levels of
security: the 40-bit ("low" or "weak") that offers over
a trillion possible code combinations, or the 128-bit
("high" or "b") with nearly immeasurable code
combinations.
Here's
how secure a 128-bit key is: it would take 250
workstations working simultaneously around the clock an
estimated 9 trillion times the age of the universe just
to decrypt a single message. It's safe to say SSL is
extremely sophisticated software. In comparison, do you
feel safe giving your credit card to a waiter who
disappears with the card for a few minutes? Or to an
employee at a store, who keeps a copy of your credit
card information? It's far more risky to trust your
credit card carbons to an underpaid fast food employee
than to send the number via a secure encrypted web page.
With the
proven security and protection that SSL provides, you
can be confident while you are taking advantage of many
conveniences of Internet shopping.
Mortgage Glossary4
