SSL Downgrade Attack
An SSL downgrade attack is a type of computer security attack that is used to trick a user into using a less secure version of the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol. The SSL protocol is used to encrypt internet traffic between a user’s computer and a website, so that sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or other personal information cannot be intercepted by a third party.
In an SSL downgrade attack, a cybercriminal will intercept the SSL handshake that occurs between a user’s computer and a website, and force the website to switch to an earlier version of the SSL protocol that is known to be vulnerable to attack. Once the protocol has been downgraded, the attacker can then intercept the encrypted traffic and access the user’s sensitive data.
To protect against SSL downgrade attacks, it is important to always use the latest version of the SSL protocol, and to ensure that the SSL connection between your computer and a website is secure. This can be done by checking that the website address begins with “https” and that there is a padlock icon in the browser address bar. If you suspect that a website has been compromised, it is important to report the incident to the website owner and to take steps to secure your own computer and personal information.