This feature applies to the following HKUST Web servers:

Using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) provides encrypted connections, so that you and others can move information across the Internet with confidence that it will not be intercepted or modified in transit. SSL defeats most attempts to eavesdrop, forge or otherwise tamper with your data.

It is appropriate to use SSL to protect passwords, intellectual property, and other information on your Web site that you do not want to travel across the Internet unencrypted.

Browsing Webpages using SSL

Enter https in place of http to open a URL address using SSL. For example:

https://ihome.ust.hk/~ccdemo/

Linking with SSL

To link between Web pages using a normal connection, insert a hyperlink and specify a relative target address:

To link to a Web page using SSL, insert a hyperlink and specify an absolute target address that calls for https:

<a href="https://ihome.ust.hk/~ccdemo/info.html">read my private info!</a>

Note: this is the only time you should specify an absolute target address when linking between pages. In normal cases, relative URL is recommended.

Enforcing Using SSL for a particluar Webpage

If you would like to enforce SSL access to a particular web page, the following line will need to be added in your .htaccess file. Any non-SSL access will be denied and a forbidden error message will be returned from the server.

SSLRequireSSL

Server Certificates

These Web servers use server certificates signed by Thawte Consulting and support up to 128-bit encryption.

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