``The nice thing about standards is that there are so many to
choose from. And if you really don't like all the standards you
just have to wait another year until the one arises you are
looking for.'' A. Tanenbaum, ``Introduction to Computer
Networks'' Understanding SSL requires an understanding of
cryptographic algorithms, message digest functions (aka. one-way
or hash functions), and digital signatures. These techniques are
the subject of entire books (see for instance [AC96]) and
provide the basis for privacy, integrity, and Suppose Alice
wants to send a message to her bank to transfer some money.
Alice would like the message to be private, since it will
include information such as her account number and transfer
amount. One solution is to use a cryptographic algorithm, a
technique that would transform her message into an encrypted
form, unreadable except by those it is intended for. Once in
this form, the message may only be interpreted through the use
of a secret key. Without the key the message is usele