1. The most common cryptographic protocol is Secure Sockets Layers (SSL). SSL is a hybrid encryption protocol for securing transactions over the internet. The SSL standard was developed by Netscape in collaboration with Mastercard, Bank of America, MCI and silicon graphics.
2. Today, all browsers in the market support SSL, and most of the secure communication are proceeded through this protocol. SSL works completely hidden for the users, who does not have to intervene in the protocol.
3. The only thing the user has to do is make sure on URL starts with https://instead of http:// where "s" obviously means secured.
4. SSL was renamed as TLS (Transport Layer Security) in 2001.

Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) is a security protocol for electronic payments with credit cards, in particular via the internet.
SET system incorporates the following key features.
1. Using public key encryption and private key encryption, ensure data confidentiality.
2. Use information digest technology to ensure the integrity of information.
3. Dual signature technology to ensure the identity of both parties in the transaction.

Encryption technology is an effective information security protection. It is defined as converting a plaintext into meaningless ciphertext using encryption algorithm thus ensuring the confidentiality of the data. The encryption or decryption process use a key to encrypt or decrypt the data. At present two encryption technologies are widely used. They are symmetric key encryption system and an asymmetric key encryption system. Thre figure below shows the Data Encryption and Decryption process:

As the security issue is the most worrying issue for E-Business, ensuring the security of E-Commerce activities has become the core research field of E-Commerce. The following are some of the security elements involved in E-Commerce.
(i)  Authenticity:( conforming genuineness of data shared.
(ii) Availability:prevention against data delay or removal.
(iii) Completeness: unification of all business information.
(iv) Confidentiality: protecting data against unauthorized disclosure.
(v) Effectiveness: effective handling of hardware, software and data.
(vi) Integrity: prevention of the data being unaltered.
(vii) Non-repudiation: prevention against violation agreement after the deal.
(viii) Privacy:prevention of customers personal data being used by others.
(ix) Reliability: providing a reliable identification of the individuals or businesses.
(x) Review ability: capability of monitoring activities to audit and track the operations.