This is pretty cool 👇 SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor, TLS (Transport Layer Security), are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over the internet. They are essential for protecting sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal data, as it travels between a client (like your web browser) and a server (like a website). Imagine you're sending a postcard with a sensitive message to a friend. Without a secure envelope, anyone who handles the postcard can read its contents. SSL/TLS acts like a secure envelope for your internet communication. When you visit a website with a URL that starts with "https" (like https://www.example.com), SSL/TLS creates an encrypted connection between your browser and the website's server. This process involves several steps: 1. The client sends a request to the server to establish a secure connection. 2. The server responds with its SSL/TLS certificate, which contains its public key and other information to verify its identity. 3. The client verifies the server's certificate and generates a unique session key. 4. The client encrypts the session key using the server's public key and sends it back to the server. 5. The server decrypts the session key using its private key, and from this point on, all communication between the client and server is encrypted using the session key. Now, any data you send or receive from the website, such as login credentials or financial information, is encrypted and unreadable to anyone who might intercept the communication. This helps protect your privacy and security online.