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Topic · part of Security
TLS / SSL & PKI.
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Beginner 5
01

What is the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?

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HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) transmits data in plain text, making it vulnerable to interception and tampering. HTTPS (HTTP Secure) adds a security layer using TLS/SSL encryption.

Key differences:

  • Security: HTTP is unencrypted; HTTPS encrypts all communication
  • Port: HTTP uses port 80; HTTPS uses port 443
  • Performance: HTTPS has slight overhead due to encryption/decryption
  • Trust: HTTPS provides authentication, ensuring you're connecting to the intended server
  • SEO: Search engines favor HTTPS websites

Example: When you log into your bank account, HTTPS ensures your credentials aren't visible to attackers on the network.

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02

What does SSL stand for and how does it relate to TLS?

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SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. TLS (Transport Layer Security) is the successor to SSL. While people often use "SSL" colloquially, modern implementations actually use TLS.

Timeline:

  • SSL 1.0: Never released (had security flaws)
  • SSL 2.0: Released 1995, now deprecated
  • SSL 3.0: Released 1996, now deprecated
  • TLS 1.0: Released 1999 (based on SSL 3.0)
  • TLS 1.1: Released 2006
  • TLS 1.2: Released 2008
  • TLS 1.3: Released 2018 (current standard)

When someone says "SSL certificate" today, they're actually referring to a certificate used with TLS.

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03

What is a digital certificate and what information does it contain?

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A digital certificate is an electronic document that binds a public key to an identity (person, organization, or device). It's like a digital passport that proves authenticity.

Key information in a certificate:

  • Subject: Who the certificate belongs to (domain name, organization)
  • Public Key: Used for encryption and signature verification
  • Issuer: The Certificate Authority that issued the certificate
  • Validity Period: Start and expiration dates
  • Serial Number: Unique identifier
  • Signature: Digital signature from the issuing CA
  • Extensions: Additional information (key usage, subject alternative names)

Example: A certificate for google.com proves that the public key belongs to Google, allowing secure communication.

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04

What is a Certificate Authority (CA) and why is it important?

Part of Pro
05

Explain the concept of public key cryptography.

Part of Pro
Intermediate 6
06

Walk me through the TLS handshake process.

Part of Pro
07

What is a certificate chain and how does certificate validation work?

Part of Pro
08

What are cipher suites and what components do they include?

Part of Pro
09

What is Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) and why is it important?

Part of Pro
10

What is certificate pinning and when would you use it?

Part of Pro
11

What is OCSP and how does it differ from CRL?

Part of Pro
Expert 9
12

Compare TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3. What are the key improvements?

Part of Pro
13

What is SNI (Server Name Indication) and why is it necessary?

Part of Pro
14

Explain Certificate Transparency and its benefits.

Part of Pro
15

What is HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) and how does it work?

Part of Pro
16

What are some common TLS/SSL vulnerabilities and how are they mitigated?

Part of Pro
17

Explain DANE (DNS-Based Authentication of Named Entities) and its advantages.

Part of Pro
18

What are the security considerations when implementing TLS in a microservices architecture?

Part of Pro
19

How would you troubleshoot a TLS certificate issue in production?

Part of Pro
20

What is the role of HSMs (Hardware Security Modules) in PKI infrastructure?

Part of Pro

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