Technical

TLS

Transport Layer Security — the protocol that encrypts data in transit between your browser and a website (the "S" in HTTPS).

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol that provides encryption for data in transit between a client (e.g. a web browser) and a server. It is the technology behind HTTPS.

What TLS Protects

  • Confidentiality — prevents eavesdropping on data in transit
  • Integrity — ensures data is not tampered with during transmission
  • Authentication — verifies the identity of the server via certificates

Versions

  • TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are deprecated (insecure)
  • TLS 1.2 is the current minimum standard
  • TLS 1.3 is the latest version, offering improved security and performance

Using TLS is considered a basic security measure under GDPR Article 32. Transmitting personal data without TLS would likely be considered inadequate security.

Related Terms

GDPRLegal

The General Data Protection Regulation — the EU's comprehensive data protection law, effective since May 2018.

EncryptionTechnical

The process of converting data into a coded form so that only authorised parties can read it.

HashingTechnical

A one-way mathematical function that converts data into a fixed-length string — used for password storage and data integrity.

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