4.1   What is SSL, anyway?

   SSL  stands  for  Secure Socket Layer.  It was invented at Netscape as a
means  of encrypting data that is to be sent over HTTP (hyper text transfer
protocol)  connections.   Whenever  you  visit  a  site  whose URL (Uniform
Resource  Locator) begins with https:// (rather than the usual http://) you
are dealing with a potentially secure site.

   Ideally, SSL is transparent to the user.  When you access a secure site,
your  browser  and the server should negotiate a suitable encryption method
and then your surfing should continue uninterupted.

   Unlike  Netscape  and  Microsoft  Internet  Explorer, there is no visual
change  in Voyager's GUI when you are accessing a secure site (eg, Netscape
borders  the view window in blue a displays a small icon of an unbroken key
when  you  are surfing a secure site).  If in doubt, check the URL box.  If
it begins https://, then chances are you are surfing securely.