TLS (Transport Layer Security) is a cryptographic protocol designed to secure communications on the Internet.
It establishes a secure channel between a web server and a client (a browser, for example), guaranteeing the confidentiality and integrity of the data exchanged. TLS is the successor to the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol.
How it works
The TLS protocol works in several stages:
- Establishing the connection Handshake: this involves the client and server negotiating security parameters.
- Authentication The server authenticates itself to the client using a digital certificate.
- Key exchange A symmetric session key is generated to encrypt the communication.
- Encryption Data is encrypted using the session key.
Examples of use
- Secure web browsing (HTTPS)
- Encrypted e-mail (SMTPS, IMAPS)
- VPN connections
- Secure online payments
📊 Statistics and figures on the TLS protocol
🇫🇷 In France
- Around 85 % of French websites will be using HTTPS (and therefore TLS) by 2024.
- TLS versions 1.2 and 1.3 are the most widely used.
🌍 Worldwide
- More than 95% of the world's web traffic is encrypted with TLS in 2024.
- TLS version 1.3 is rapidly gaining adoption, accounting for around 40 % of global TLS traffic.
