WWW: Beyond the Basics

18. WWW Security

by Calin Groza

ABSTRACT

Information privacy on the Internet and World Wide Web has become an important issue in recent years. Individuals, companies and governments are concerned that sensitive information has become more vulnerable to unauthorized access and use. Several solutions have been proposed over the years. This chapter presents how cryptography can be used to increase the security of information on the World Wide Web. The chapter contains an introduction to cryptography, it then presents a protocol for safe communication in a client-server application and concludes with an example of how this protocol is used for buying a book through the World Wide Web. Throughout the chapter, technological and social issues related to cryptography are brought to the reader's attention.

CHAPTER CONTENT

  1. Introduction
  2. Cryptography
    1. Terminology
    2. Secret Key Algorithms
    3. Public Key Algorithms
    4. Digital Signatures
    5. Public Key Certificates
  3. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
    1. SSL Handshake Protocol
    2. SSL Application Data Protocol
  4. Application - Buying a book in the WWW
  5. Summary

References

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Copyright © 1996 Calin Groza, All Rights Reserved

Calin Groza <cgroza@cs.vt.edu>
Last modified: Dec. 16, 1996 12:00 1996