1. A protocol designed by Netscape Communications to enable encrypted, authenticated communications across the Internet. From Matisse

2. An Internet security standard proposed by Netscape Communications and incorporated into its Netscape Navigator browser and Netscape Commerce Server software. Unlike its chief competition, Secure HyperText Transport Protocol (Secure HTTP), SSL is application-independent it with all Internet tools, not just the World Wide Web (WWW). Applications that use SSL use public key encryption to ensure that, while information is being conveyed through the Internet, no one can intercept that information. Netscape Communications has released the SSL specification to the Internet community as an open standard. Terisa Systems is currently developing a hybrid SSL/Secure H'TTP specification that ensures that any browser with security features can access any secure Web site. See public key cryptography. security The protection of data so unauthorized users cannot examine or copy it. Mainframe computer systems ensured security by keeping the computer and its mass storage media under lock and key, and allowing access only through remote terminals equipped with displays but no disk drives. Although some experts argue that personal computer local area networks (LANs) should be set up the same way, the excessive centralization of mainframe computer systems was one of the main reasons for the development of personal computers. Concern for security shouldn't prevent a manager from distributing computing power-and computing autonomy-to subordinates. Sufficiently advanced data encryption and password-protection schemes can foil even the most skilled and determined hacker. From QUECID