What is SSL and how does secure internet communication work? In this episode, we explore SSL, encryption basics, and the story behind OpenSSL—from early web security to modern open-source cryptography.

In this episode, we break down SSL, TLS, encryption, and secure communication in a simple, practical way, while exploring the history and impact of OpenSSL—one of the most widely used open-source security libraries.

We go back to the early internet era of Netscape vs Internet Explorer, when encryption was restricted and controlled, and SSL was just emerging. Learn how OpenSSL was created, how export laws shaped cryptography, and why open source changed everything for web security.

We also dive into:

🔐 How SSL/TLS encryption works

🌐 The evolution of internet security protocols

💥 The Heartbleed vulnerability and its global impact

🧠 Cryptography basics like randomness and elliptic curve algorithms

👥 How the OpenSSL open-source community operates

🏢 The structure of the OpenSSL Foundation and commercial support

You’ll also hear a real journey into open source—from first contributions to becoming part of a core team—giving insight into how major security projects evolve behind the scenes.

Guests:

• Matt Caswell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-caswell-5a8b14/