Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over computer networks. TLS encrypts data in transit between client and server, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. TLS 1.3 is the current standard, offering improved security and performance. SSL is deprecated due to known vulnerabilities. TLS is essential for HTTPS, secure email, VPNs, and any application requiring encrypted communications.
Networking