secure pages

Anon

I am using php to verify a user access to my pages and was wondering what the whole "Secure" area thing is on IE, NS, and other browsers? I see this on pages all the time and wasn't ever sure of how to turn it on in pages that I make. Is this done via HTML? PHP? webserver?
Thanks for any help.

cordex

This is a webserver deal. Rather then going to http://...., you would go to https://.... and the server attempts to set up "secure" communications with your browser.

-Ben

Anon

I tried the same address except with https and it came up with "Can't find Server" error. So what would I need to do https?? I'm currently running Apache on UNIX. Thanks for enlightening me on this technology

Anon

There's alot more to it than that. What you are seeing is SSL (Secure Socket Layer) either a 40-bit or 128-bit encryption function that must be installed on the server and activated for your specific directories. If you are buying space from a web farm, ask them if they have it available. Some do, but usually reserve it for the folks who buy alot of space or set up ecommerce on the servers. Since this includes registering the certificates with a service such as Verisign or some other recognized authority, it does come with a cost.

The technology (at least in IIS) includes a key set, part of which is created at the server and the rest created by the authority or their representative. Then you install the key on the server and it runs. There is a whole lot more to it than this, but this is what it is in a nutshell.

HTH,

Jim Hawley

Anon

There is a PDF document on linuxdoc.org link here:

http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/solrhe/Securing-Optimizing-Linux-RH-Edition-v1.3.pdf

This document is a little dated but contains all the essentials to setting up Apache with SSL/PHP. It will require that you have OpenSSL installed and configured with a valid key pair (private, public). This book will tell you how to make your own, or if you need a publically recognized key signer, verisign can provide you with one. Just follow through the book and you will be up and running with the basics. This book says for RedHat but it works on FreeBSD, Linux, Unix, Solaris, etc. J