Ssl

Overview SSL and TLS are cryptographic protocols that secure data in transit between clients and servers, but SSL is the deprecated predecessor while TLS is its actively maintained successor. Every SSL version is now broken or prohibited, yet the term “SSL” persists in everyday usage even though modern connections actually negotiate TLS. Comparison Diagram SSLTLSSSL 2.0 (1995)broken by DROWNSSL 3.0 (1996)broken by POODLEall versions prohibitedTLS 1.0 (1999)TLS 1.1 (2006)TLS 1.2 (2008)widely deployedTLS 1.3 (2018)current standardtime →deprecated / prohibitedactively maintained Comparison Table Aspect SSL TLS Origin Developed by Netscape starting in 1995 Standardized by the IETF in 1999 as SSL’s successor Versions released SSL 2.0, SSL 3.0 (SSL 1.0 never shipped) TLS 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 Handshake process Full handshake only, with weaker key exchange options Streamlined handshake; TLS 1.3 cuts a round trip and defaults to forward secrecy Cipher suite support Permits weak ciphers like RC4, DES, and export-grade crypto Mandates modern AEAD ciphers (AES-GCM, ChaCha20-Poly1305); weak ciphers dropped entirely in 1.3 Known vulnerabilities POODLE broke SSL 3.0; DROWN broke SSL 2.0 BEAST and CRIME hit early TLS 1.0 but were patched in later versions Current status All versions formally deprecated and prohibited (RFC 7568) TLS 1.2 and 1.3 are the current standards; 1.0/1.1 also deprecated Everyday terminology “SSL certificate” and “SSL/TLS” persist as colloquial shorthand The protocol actually negotiated by nearly every modern HTTPS connection Key Differences SSL is the obsolete predecessor; TLS is the actively maintained successor protocol TLS 1.3’s handshake trims a round trip compared to SSL’s full handshake SSL still permits weak ciphers like RC4; TLS mandates modern AEAD ciphers The label “SSL certificate” survives in marketing even though browsers negotiate TLS SSL 3.0 was broken by POODLE, forcing its complete deprecation When to Use Each SSL ...