The Standard SSL Handshake

1.  Client Hello

Information that the server needs to communicate with the client using SSL. This includes the SSL version number, cipher settings, session-specific data.

2.  Server Hello

Information that the server needs to communicate with the client using SSL. This includes the SSL version number, cipher settings, session-specific data.

3.  Authentication and Pre-Master Secret

Client authenticates the server certificate. (e.g. Common Name / Date / Issuer) Client (depending on the cipher) creates the pre-master secret for the session, Encrypts with the server‘s public key and sends the encrypted pre-master secret to the server.