What is secure sockets layer (SSL)?

When you send and receive information on the internet (submitting online forms, posting messages on websites) it is often insecure - data transmitted is un-encrypted and sent "as is". This means that during transmission of this data it can be intercepted maliciously and the data used in any way.

SSL is a way of encrypting data sent over the internet. This means that before the data is sent it is encrypted in a way that makes it unreadable if intercepted. When it comes to sensitive information such as personal details, usernames and passwords or credit card details the use of SSL is imperative. Ensuring that sensitive data is encrypted using SSL makes it virtually impossible for it to be stolen and used without your consent. Once the information reaches its destination it can then be decrypted and read as normal.

Secure Sockets Layer technology requires the use of an SSL certificate. SSL certificates are granted by certified providers on a per domain name basis. SSL certificates are usually incorporated into e-commerce websites to protect credit card details and user data, but are also found where personal details or usernames and passwords need to be entered.

The technical side of SSL involves complex cryptography to encrypt the data before being sent and decrypt the data on arrival. The in-depth details of how SSL works can be found here.