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 (hypertext 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  the Voyager V2.88 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.

   As of Voyager V2.92v (beta), a small key icon (not unlike Netscape's) in
the  lower  left  corner of the Voyager window tells you when you are on an
encrypted site.