What are TLS protocols and how do they work?

What are TLS protocols and how do they work?

TLS, or Transport Layer Security, is a cryptographic protocol designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. It ensures privacy and data integrity between two communicating applications.

Can you explain the difference between TLS and SSL?

TLS is the successor to SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). While they serve similar purposes, TLS is more secure and efficient than SSL, which is now considered outdated.

What are the main components of a TLS handshake?

The TLS handshake involves several steps: client hello, server hello, certificate exchange, key exchange, and session keys creation, establishing a secure connection.

How does TLS ensure data integrity?

TLS uses message authentication codes (MACs) to ensure data integrity. It verifies that the data has not been altered during transmission.

Are there any vulnerabilities associated with TLS?

Yes, while TLS is secure, vulnerabilities can arise from improper implementation, outdated versions, or specific attacks like BEAST or POODLE.