SSL Vs TLS: What are the Differences Between SSL and TLS
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A secure connection is encrypted. The encryption protects the data you send and receive so anyone else can’t read it. There are two types of encryption: SSL and TLS. Each has its pros and cons, but both provide a secure connection.
There is a marked distinction between SSL and TLS. Two protocols encrypt data sent over the Internet. These protocols are objectives for cryptographers, network security experts, and developers who want to establish encrypted links between a web server and browsers.
Key Takeaways
- SSL and TLS are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over computer networks.
- TLS is the successor to SSL and offers improved security and performance by addressing vulnerabilities found in SSL.
- The primary distinction between SSL and TLS includes differences in handshake protocols, cipher suites, and security features.
- Using an SSL/TLS certificate is essential for ensuring that all data transmitted between a user’s web browser and a server is encrypted and secure.
- TLS is now the standard for securing websites, while SSL has been deprecated due to its outdated security measures.
What is SSL (Secure Socket Layer Protocol)
SSL, or Transport Layer Security, is a cryptographic protocol written in C language that provides communication security over a computer network. It uses encryption to protect data integrity and confidentiality.
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What is TLS (Transport Layer Security)
TLS, or Transport Layer Security, is a standard for secure communication over the internet. It allows client/server applications to communicate over a network in a way designed to prevent eavesdropping and tampering with information.
What Are the Difference Between SSL and TLS
TLS and SSL provide safe authentication and data transmission over the Internet. But how do TLS and SSL differ from one another? The key differences are highlighted in the table below:
| SSL | TLS |
|---|---|
| The SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, | TLS stands for Transport Layer Security. |
| Netscape created SSL in 1995. | Internet Engineering Taskforce (IETF) developed TLS for the first time in 1999. |
| Has three versions: - SSL 1.0 - SSL 2.0, - SSL 3.0. | Has four versions: - TLS 1.0 - TLS 1.1 - TLS 1.2 - TLS 1.3 |
| In all versions of SSL, vulnerabilities have been found, and all have been deprecated. | From March 2020 onward, TLS 1.0 and 1.1 will no longer be supported. In most cases, TLS 1.2 is used. |
| A web server and client communicate securely using SSL, a cryptographic protocol that uses explicit connections. | Using TLS, the web server and client can communicate securely via implicit connections. TLS has replaced SSL. |
Some other major differences in the working of SL and TLS are as follows:
Message Authentication
A primary difference between SSL and TLS is message authentication. SSL uses message authentication codes (MACs) to ensure messages are not tampered with during transmission. TLS does not use MACs for protection but instead relies on other means, such as encryption, to prevent tampering.
Record Protocol
The Record Protocol is how data is carried over a secure communications channel in both TLS and SSL, but it has some minor differences. In TLS, only one record may be taken per packet, while in SSL, multiple records may be carried per packet (though this was rarely implemented).
Additionally, some features in the Record Protocol of TLS are not included in SSL, such as compression and padding options.
Cipher Suites
TLS supports various cipher suites, which are algorithms used for encryption and decryption. The best-known cipher suite is the ephemeral Diffie-Hellman (DHE) key exchange based on elliptic curves, which provides perfect forward secrecy (PFS) and can be used with any key length. A few other cipher suites support PFS but are less widely used. SSL supports only one cipher suite with PFS, which uses a 1024-bit RSA key.
Alert Messages
The SSL protocol uses alert messages to inform the client or server about a specific error during communication. The TLS protocol does not have any equivalent mechanism.
SSL/TLS Handshakes
Compared to SSL, TLS has a much more improved handshake protocol with several exciting features like session resumptions and modern key exchange mechanisms. This reduces load on both ends.
H3: Encryption Algorithms
With SSL we see the usage of outdated encryption algorithms, while TLS uses modern encryption algorithms making it faster and more secure.
H3: Exchange Methods
TLS supports more secure exchange methods compared to SSL like Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral (DHE) and Elliptic-Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDHE).
H3: Impact on Website Security
TLS significantly improves website security by preventing eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and data tampering more effectively than SSL. As a result, TLS is the standard for securing websites today, while SSL is no longer recommended due to its vulnerabilities.
In a nutshell, SSL is no longer in use, and TLS is the new term for the antiquated SSL protocol as a current encryption standard used by all. Although TLS is technically more accurate, the term “SSL” is widely used.
TLS and SSL Similarities
Both TLS and SSL are cryptographic protocols that have several key similarities. They are as follows:
- Both TLS and SSL data encryption and secure network communication.
- Both TLS and SSL encrypt data transmitted between clients.
- The process of operation is similar for both protocols.
- Both protocols use digital certificates.
How SSL and TLS Work to Secure Data
Below is a breakdown of how TLS works to secure data:
Step 1: Handshake Phase
Client and server exchange “hello” messages, agreeing on encryption standards.
Step 2: Server Authentication Phase
The server sends a certificate to verify its identity.
Step 3: Session Key Generation
The client and server generate a shared session key for encryption.
Step 4: Encrypted Data Transfer
All data is encrypted with the session key to ensure privacy.
Step 5: Data Integrity Verification Phase
Uses MACs (hashes) to confirm data hasn’t been tampered with.
Step 6: Secure Session Closure
The session ends securely to prevent unauthorized reconnections.
Why Do You Need an SSL/TLS Certificate?
SSL/TLS certificates encrypt data sent between your website and your users. Any information you send is secure and not visible to others. This is vital for protecting sensitive information such as credit card numbers, passwords, and other data.
Without an SSL/TLS certificate, anyone on the same network as your website can intercept the traffic between your server and your user’s web browsers. This could allow them to see all the information being exchanged and even alter it before sending it along its way. Therefore, when you are calculating the cost of building a website, it is important to remember to include SSL/TLS certificates into consideration as well.
TLS and SSL FAQs
Why Did TLS Replace SSL?
To protect online applications or in-transit data from eavesdropping and alteration, TLS encryption is now a routine procedure. TLS has been vulnerable to breaches like Crime and Heartbleed in 2012 and 2014. Although it has demonstrated significant advances in efficiency and security, it is unrealistic to believe it is the most secure protocol.
Consensus Development’s Christopher Allen and Tim Dierks created the TLS 1.0 protocol, an improvement on SSL 3.0.
Even though the name change implies a substantial difference between the two, there weren’t many.
According to Dierks, Microsoft changed its name to save face. He stated:
To avoid giving the impression that the IETF was endorsing Netscape’s protocol, we had to rebrand SSL 3.0 as part of the horsetrading (for the same reason). And so, TLS 1.0 was created (which was SSL 3.1). Of course, looking back, the entire situation seems ridiculous.
SSL is being replaced with TLS, and practically all SSL versions have been deemed obsolete due to documented security flaws. One example is Google Chrome, which ceased using SSL 3.0 in 2014. The majority of contemporary online browsers do not support SSL at all.
Why Replace Your SSL Certificates with TLS Certificates?
The main reason for replacing your existing SSL certificates with new TLS certificates is that they are incompatible with each other — they use different protocols and algorithms. This means that any browser or client application that uses one protocol won’t be able to connect securely with a server using the other protocol without explicit configuration changes being made on both sides of the connection.
Are TLS and SSL Compatible?
As TLS was developed as a replacement for SSL, it is compatible with the latter. Systems that haven’t updated to TLS, can use certain TLS versions that are compatible with older SSL protocols.
Why is TLS More Preferable?
TLS is preferred because it offers enhanced security, better performance, and improved encryption standards over SSL. TLS fixes several vulnerabilities present in SSL, such as weaknesses in certain types of attacks.
Is SSL More Secure Than TLS?
No, TLS is more secure than SSL. SSL protocols are outdated and susceptible to modern-day sophisticated cyber attacks. This is one of the primary reasons for which SSL was deprecated and replaced by the more superior TLS protocol.
Final Words
Both SSL and TLS certificates provide the same function of encrypting data flow if you compare them. An improved and more secure version of SSL was TLS. However, SSL certificates, which are widely available online, have the same function of protecting your website. In actuality, they both provide the HTTPS address bar, which has come to be recognized as the distinguishing feature of online security.
While SSL and TLS safeguard your website from unauthorized usage, DMARC protects your email domain from impersonation. DMARC is an email authentication standard that enables you to take action against emails sent from unauthorized sources that impersonate your domain name.
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Ahona is the Marketing Manager at PowerDMARC, with 5+ years of experience in writing about cybersecurity topics, specializing in domain and email security. Ahona holds a post-graduation degree in Journalism and Communications, solidifying her career in the security sector since 2019.
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