Secure Sockets Layer

How do I know if I'm secure?

All of this SSl stuff sound pretty cool and all, but how do I know if I'm at a secure site?  This is actually quite simple to find out.  There are a couple of tell tale signs.  To demonstrate this, I will log onto my account at Amazon.com .  Amazon will ask me to use a secure transaction.  When I click on the secure site, the following screen will pop up.  This screen asks me to Sign In.  As you read in the handshake section of this web site, the client must initiate contact by sending the "hello" message. This is done by giving Amazon my Email address and password.  I must identify myself to the server.

If I have forgotten my password, Amazon will Email it to me.  After I have successfully logged in, the next screen will give some indications that the link is secure.  Note the URL.  It now starts with https://.  The S indicates that the connection is now secure via SSL.  Note also the toolbar.  There is a yellow lock on the toolbar that indicates that the site is secure.

At this point I have securely logged on and can complete a transaction with a higher level of security.  Is it 100%.  Not exactly.  What level of safety do I have?  Can someone hack SSL?  Follow this link and you will see that it can be done.

What level of encryption is used?

Paul Palicki