Safe SSL ciphers

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Secure Ciphers for TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3: A Guide for Web Server Administrators

As a web server administrator, ensuring the security of your server and protecting the data of your users is of utmost importance. One crucial aspect of web server security is the use of secure ciphers for encrypting data transmitted between the server and clients. In this article, we will discuss the recommended secure ciphers for both TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 protocols.

Understanding TLS and Ciphers

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol used to provide secure communication between web servers and clients. Ciphers are algorithms used to encrypt and decrypt data transmitted over a secure connection. A cipher suite is a combination of a key exchange algorithm, a bulk encryption algorithm, and a message authentication code (MAC) algorithm.

Secure Ciphers for TLS 1.2

For TLS 1.2, the following cipher suites are considered secure:

ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384
ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384
DHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384
ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256
ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256
DHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256

These cipher suites use Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral (ECDHE) or Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral (DHE) key exchange, which provide forward secrecy. They also use the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) in Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) for bulk encryption, which is considered secure.

Secure Ciphers for TLS 1.3

TLS 1.3, the latest version of the TLS protocol, introduces several improvements over its predecessors, including improved security and performance. For TLS 1.3, the following cipher suites are considered secure:

TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384
TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256
TLS_CHACHA20_POLY1305_SHA256

These cipher suites use the AES in GCM mode for bulk encryption, which is considered secure. They also use the ChaCha20 stream cipher with Poly1305 MAC, which is considered secure and efficient.

Best Practices

To ensure the security of your web server, follow these best practices:

Use a secure cipher suite for both TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3.
Prioritize ECDHE or DHE key exchange over RSA key exchange.
Use a secure bulk encryption algorithm, such as AES in GCM mode.
Regularly update your web server software and cryptographic libraries to ensure you have the latest security patches and features.
Test your web server's security using tools such as SSL Labs' SSL Test.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using secure ciphers is crucial for protecting the data of your users and ensuring the security of your web server. By following the recommended cipher suites for TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3, and adhering to best practices, you can ensure the security and integrity of your web server. Remember to regularly update your web server software and cryptographic libraries to stay ahead of potential security threats.