Description: Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. Its primary goal is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data transmitted between two parties, such as a client and a server. TLS uses encryption techniques to protect information from potential interception and attacks, ensuring that only authorized parties can access the data. Additionally, it includes mechanisms to verify the identity of the parties involved, helping to prevent fraud and impersonation. This protocol is fundamental today, as it is used in various applications, from secure web browsing to data protection in cloud computing, APIs, and VPN connections. The implementation of TLS is essential to maintain trust in digital transactions and online communication, becoming a de facto standard for security on the Internet.
History: TLS was developed as a successor to SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) in the 1990s. The first version of TLS, TLS 1.0, was published in 1999 by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) as RFC 2246. Since then, there have been several updates, with TLS 1.2 released in 2008 and TLS 1.3 in 2018, which improved the security and efficiency of the protocol.
Uses: TLS is primarily used to secure communications on the web, protecting information transmitted between browsers and servers. It is also applied in email services, VPN connections, and in the protection of APIs, ensuring that exchanged data is secure and encrypted.
Examples: A practical example of TLS is the use of HTTPS on websites, where sensitive information such as passwords and credit card data is transmitted securely. Another example is its implementation in email services, which use TLS to encrypt emails in transit.
