A public key is used to encrypt information and a private key is used to decipher it. When a browser points to a secured domain, an SSL handshake authenticates the server and the client and establishes an encryption method and a unique session key. They can begin a secure session that guarantees message privacy and message integrity.
When an SSL handshake occurs between a client and server, a level of encryption is determined by the browser, the client computer operating system and the SSL Certificate.
High-level encryption, at 128 bits, can calculate 288 times as many combinations as 40-bit encryption - that's over a trillion times a trillion times stronger. We now use 128-bit SSL encryption using Verisgn Digital Certficates for our online store/s so your purchase is transacted more securely.
Some browsers do not support connections at 128-bit so will connect using 'lower level' encryption. In order to put this into context, here are some brief explanations of terminologies used:
- RC4-128
The 128-bit version of the RC4 stream encryption algorithm provides very high-level encryption protection.
- 3DES
Triple DES, encrypted three times with three different DES keys. This is much more secure than DES and slightly less secure than RC4-128 (and much slower to process).
- RC4-40
The International version of SSL uses a 40-bit key size for the RC4 stream encryption algorithm. Although this version contains a lower level of encryption protection, RC4-40 is still a formidable cipher.
With public key cryptography, the longer the keys, the longer it would
take to guess the keys and break the encryption. To break one
message encrypted with RC4-40, for example, a computer would have to attempt to decrypt the
message with about 500 billion different keys.
For further information on SSL Security used on our site/s, please contact us on the number below.
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Call us free, on...
0800 085 6661
(UK callers only) or email us by clicking here
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