What does the acronym "SSL" stand for?

The acronym "SSL" stands for Secure Sockets Layer. This is a standard security technology used to establish an encrypted link between a server and a client, typically a web server and a browser. SSL ensures that all data transmitted between these two entities remains private and secure.

When SSL is implemented, it provides authentication for the server and allows secure transmission of data, which helps protect sensitive information such as credit card numbers, login credentials, and personal data from being intercepted during transmission.

Understanding the significance of SSL is vital in the context of cybersecurity because it plays a crucial role in safeguarding communications over the internet. As technology evolved, SSL has largely been succeeded by Transport Layer Security (TLS), but the term SSL is still widely used to refer to both protocols in general discussions about internet security.