What does the acronym "SSL" stand for?

2025

What does the acronym "SSL" stand for?

  1. A.

    Secure System Layer

  2. B.

    Secure Sockets Layer

  3. C.

    System Security Layer

  4. D.

    Standard Security Layer

Attempted by 39 students.

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Correct answer: B

Answer: Secure Sockets Layer

SSL is a cryptographic protocol that provides secure communication over a network by encrypting data exchanged between a client and a server.

Key purposes:

  • Encryption — keeps transmitted data private.

  • Authentication — verifies the identity of the server (and optionally the client).

  • Integrity — detects tampering or corruption of transmitted data.

Note: SSL has been succeeded by Transport Layer Security (TLS). TLS is the modern protocol used in practice, though the term "SSL" is still commonly used.

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