GnuTLS
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Gnutls-logo.png GnuTLS, the GNU Transport Layer Security Library, is a free software implementation of the SSL and TLS protocols. Its purpose is to offer an application programming interface (API) for applications to enable secure communication protocols over their network transport layer. GnuTLS has the following features:
- TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1 and SSL 3.0 protocols
- Secure remote password protocol (SRP) for TLS authentication
- Pre-Shared Key (PSK) for TLS authentication
- TLS Extension mechanism
- TLS Compression
- X.509 and OpenPGP certificate handling
GnuTLS is licensed under the Lesser GPL; some parts are licensed under the GPL.
GnuTLS was initially created to allow applications of the GNU project to use secure protocols such as TLS. Although OpenSSL preexisted, OpenSSL's license is not compatible with the GPL [1] thus software under the GPL license could not use it.
GnuTLS is being used in software like GNOME, Centericq, Exim, Mutt, Slrn, Lynx, and CUPS.
GnuTLS version 1.2.10 was released on 11 February, 2006[2].