Skygate revises SSL Internet security protocol

Internet Business News, July 23, 2001

INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The UK based cryptography, security and Internet consultancy Skygate has completed a revision of the SSL Internet security protocol - a system that among other things protects online shoppers' credit card numbers.

The revision, providing the first upgrade in two years to the protocol, is expected to go shortly to the Internet Engineering Steering Group for approval as an Internet standard.

Designed to improve online security, Skygate's revision will add support for the Advanced Encryption Standard, which is replacing DES as the standard for government cryptography. SSL will also be enhanced with support for forward secrecy, a feature that protects past data if a server's key is stolen, and for password-based systems in which the server does not have a certificate.

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