What is SSL?
SSL security or Secure Socket Layer is a standard security technology that can be used to establish a particular encrypted link between a server and the client. It means SSL can create the connection between the server or website and the browser or the mail server and mail client. SSL also allows the secured transmission of the login password and credit card numbers. The data between a website and a browser is sent through the plain text that makes your data vulnerable. If a hacker ever penetrates the link between the server and browser, they can easily steal or use your personal information without leaving a single clue. SSL is now known as TLS (transport layer security).
In that case, SSL saves millions of personal information on the internet every day. It secures the information during online payment transaction or when someone shares other confidential data such a login password. You might already hear about the SSL connection if you read about the cyber security tips.
How to Detect SSL Secured Website?
Well, it’s easy to find out whether the website is SSL secured or not. The most basic standard look of an SSL secured website is “https” signature. You will see the address that starts with “https” other than “HTTP” on the address bar. Another thing you will see is a lock icon beside the address bar. That means you are in a safe place. Shortly and more accurately we can say that SSL is a security protocol. To establish a secure connection, SSL certificate is always important.
SSL Vulnerabilities
Hackers are taking advantages as the SSL weaknesses are getting visible and new vulnerabilities are also discovered year after years. Cyber criminals are genius enough to check the security wall of a website and break it. Now let’s see what vulnerabilities the SSL security system can have:
SSL certificate from any unprofessional and untrusted certificate authority.
Older version of SSL version can be penetrated very easily.
Using ciphers less than required bits.
Client renegotiation.
Partly encrypted data can be dangerous.
These are some significant vulnerabilities and weak points of SSL. Now we will be concentrating on how we can fight against SSL security threats. We can follow and maintain some rules and regulations to make the SSL security strong enough. Hacker will find a hard time to penetrate your security system through your strong SSL. This is an enormous credit.
Shield against SSL Security Holes
SSL has upgraded, improved and changed in recent years. The new kind of SSL threats and vulnerabilities are coming out. In this piece of article, we will see how to address SSL issues and vulnerabilities and how you will be able to handle those. So, let’s see:
What We Need to See?
SSL Certificate
SSL certificate is the main key to identify a secure web server or site. The certificate indicates the trustworthiness of a website. The certificate must be obtained by a reliable and trustworthy certificate authority. Any enterprise should not use the self-signed SSL certificate, and the following certificate should use the SHA-2 hash algorithm. This algorithm doesn’t have any known vulnerabilities or threats. EV or extended validation Certificate is another certification that can be used to secure the entire website and the server.
Avoid Old SSL
We already know that number of updates of SSL are also increasing the number of vulnerabilities every year. So, you should not be using the older version of SSL. SSL v2.0 is no longer useful for its vulnerabilities. POODLE Attack affects SSL 3.0. Later, SSL upgraded itself and named it as TLS from 1999. Till now, TLS has three updated versions (1.0, 1.1 and 1.2). Most of the updated browser supports the TLS 1.2 security protocol.
Avoid Weak Ciphers
You shouldn’t use weaker Ciphers which is less than 128 bits because those ciphers doesn’t provide enough encryption strength. Everyone should ignore RC4 Cipher because it is also vulnerable. ECDHE ciphers are the ideal with forward secrecy.
Say NO to Client Renegotiation
Renegotiation of SSL allows both server and client to stop the SSL exchange to renegotiate the parameter of the connection. Client-initiated renegotiation can lead to a serious SSL security issues. Because the entire process requires far more processing power on the server than it usually does for the client.
TLS Compression is not good
Disabling TLS compression will be a great decision. TLS compression can open a pathway for CRIME ATTACK (one kind of cyberattack) that can exploit flaws in the compression process. So, if you want to prevent the following attack, you must disable the TKS compression.
All Encryption is Necessary
There shouldn’t be any unnecessary content on your website. Mixed content can lead to a serious security issue. Mixed content means, where part of the site is under encryption and the other part is not.
Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security
You have to activate the HSTS or HTTP Strict Transport Security. This will prevent any unencrypted communication to the server or the website.
Conclusion
So, these are some tips to handle SSL security issues. You can follow these, or you can get some valuable advice from an expert. By following the certain internet security tips you will stay safer. A strong SSL will secure not only your personal data but also some useful information which costs more than a million sometimes.
Therefore, it’s up to you to make your online data secured and safe. Your password, card information, and other confidential matters will not be so easy to get. Besides all these things, you have to be smart as well. Do not share your confidential data such as login information and credit card numbers here and there. Think before you do any of those.