Justin wrote: > At http://developer.netscape.com/tech/security/ssl/ I sort of understood the > article, up to the section 'Exchanging a Secret'. I'm trying to find out > what the Secret is and what a Message Authentication Code is.
I'm not sure that this contains all the detail you'd want, but here is a copy of a "Cryptography 101" presentation that I created while I was at Netscape: http://www.hecker.org/misc/cryptography-101.pdf (If you're on a slow Internet link, note that this file is about 1.7 MB in size.) Along with a general explanation of symmetric and public key cryptography, the presentation contains an overview of how the SSL protocol works, starting with a simplified view of the protocol and then introducing more of the "real-world" details. It may help answer at least some of your questions. If anyone out there wants to re-use any of the material in the presentation, you're welcome to do so; all I ask is that you credit me appropriately. The original PowerPoint presentation is at http://www.hecker.org/misc/cryp1017.zip It contains some cute animations that aren't present in the PDF version. Frank -- Frank Hecker [EMAIL PROTECTED]
