TLS (Transport Layer Security) is the protocol that replaced SSL over two decades ago. When your server says it uses SSL, it's actually using TLS — the name "SSL" survived as a marketing term long after the original protocol was deprecated.
In this article you'll see what sets SSL apart from TLS, which versions are current, which are banned, and what you should configure on your server today.
What Was SSL and Why Doesn't It Exist Anymore?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) was designed by Netscape in the 1990s to encrypt communication between browsers and servers. It had three versions:
- SSL 1.0 — never released (critical design flaws).
- SSL 2.0 — released in 1995; retired in 2011 by RFC 6176.
- SSL 3.0 — released in 1996; retired in 2015 by RFC 7568 after the POODLE attack.
Bottom line: no version of SSL is permitted today. If a security scanner detects SSL 2.0 or SSL 3.0 active on your server, you have a serious vulnerability.
What Is TLS and Which Versions Are Current?
TLS (Transport Layer Security) was born as the direct successor to SSL 3.0. The IETF standardized its versions as follows:
| Version | Year | Status in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| TLS 1.0 | 1999 | Deprecated (RFC 8996, 2021) — do not use |
| TLS 1.1 | 2006 | Deprecated (RFC 8996, 2021) — do not use |
| TLS 1.2 | 2008 | Current — minimum recommended |
| TLS 1.3 | 2018 | Current and preferred — faster and more secure |
Modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) have already dropped support for TLS 1.0 and 1.1. If your server supports them, modern clients simply won't negotiate those versions, but they still pose a risk for older or misconfigured clients.
Technical Differences Between SSL and TLS
Although SSL and TLS are part of the same protocol family, they differ in important ways:
Handshake Process
SSL 3.0 uses a simpler handshake but relies on weak algorithms (MD5, SHA-1). TLS 1.2 allows modern cipher suites (AES-GCM, SHA-256). TLS 1.3 completely redesigned the handshake: it eliminates a full network round trip (0-RTT or 1-RTT), reducing latency for new connections.
Cipher Suites
SSL includes ciphers now considered broken (RC4, DES, 40-bit export). TLS 1.3 removed all weak suites from the standard and only allows AEAD (authenticated encryption), making it impossible to accidentally negotiate an insecure cipher.
Message Authentication
SSL uses MAC (Message Authentication Code) before encryption — a pattern vulnerable to padding oracle attacks. TLS 1.3 uses AEAD, which combines encryption and authentication in a single step, closing that entire class of vulnerability.
Why Does Everyone Still Say "SSL" If It's Really TLS?
The industry adopted "SSL" as a synonym for "web encryption" before TLS even existed. When certificate authorities (CAs) started selling digital certificates, they called them "SSL certificates" and the name stuck forever.
Today, when you buy an SSL certificate from any provider — including Let's Encrypt — you receive exactly the same type of X.509 certificate that works with both TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3. The certificate itself isn't "SSL" or "TLS"; what changes is the transport protocol your server negotiates.
Browse more web security topics in our SSL and TLS security section.
What to Configure on Your Server in 2025
The correct configuration for Apache or Nginx is straightforward:
Apache
SSLProtocol -all +TLSv1.2 +TLSv1.3
SSLCipherSuite TLSv1.3 TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256:TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384
SSLCipherSuite HIGH:!aNULL:!MD5:!RC4
Nginx
ssl_protocols TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
ssl_ciphers HIGH:!aNULL:!MD5:!RC4;
ssl_prefer_server_ciphers on;
After applying changes, verify with diagnostic tools like those we use at elenlace.com or run openssl s_client -connect yourdomain.com:443 -tls1_2 from the command line.
Key Takeaways
- SSL is completely obsolete; TLS is the real protocol protecting the web today.
- Only TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 are acceptable in 2025; disable everything else.
- TLS 1.3 is faster (1-RTT handshake) and more secure (AEAD only, no weak ciphers).
- "SSL certificates" are actually X.509 certificates that work with TLS without any changes.
- Use tools like SSL Labs or your hosting provider to audit your configuration regularly.
Want to make sure your site is correctly configured with TLS 1.3 and a valid certificate? The team at elenlace.com can review and optimize your security setup at no extra cost with our hosting plans.
FAQ
Are SSL and TLS the same thing?
They are not technically the same: SSL is the original (now obsolete) protocol and TLS is its modern successor. However, the industry uses them interchangeably because the name "SSL" became popular before TLS existed. When someone says "SSL certificate," they mean a certificate that works with TLS.
Is it dangerous to have SSL 3.0 active on my server?
Yes. SSL 3.0 is vulnerable to the POODLE attack (2014), which allows an attacker to decrypt supposedly protected traffic. RFC 7568 explicitly prohibited its use in 2015. Disable it immediately if your scanner detects it active.
TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3 — which should I use?
Ideally, support both: enable TLS 1.3 as preferred and TLS 1.2 as a fallback for slightly older clients. Don't disable TLS 1.2 yet, because some corporate systems and IoT devices still don't support TLS 1.3.
Do I need to renew my certificate to use TLS 1.3?
No. TLS 1.3 is a transport protocol negotiation on the server side; the X.509 certificate is independent. You only need to update your web server configuration (Apache, Nginx, etc.) and have a version of OpenSSL that supports TLS 1.3 (1.1.1+).
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