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A cipher suite is a combination of algorithms that are used to secure communication over a computer network. It typically includes a combination of cryptographic protocols and ciphers (algorithms for encryption and decryption) that are used to secure the transmission of data.
Cipher suites are used in various network protocols, such as Transport Layer Security (TLS), which is a protocol that is used to secure communication over the Internet. A cipher suite is specified in the TLS handshake process, which is the process by which the client and server negotiate the security settings that will be used for the connection.
A cipher suite typically includes the following algorithms:
A key exchange algorithm: This is used to establish a shared secret key between the client and the server.
A bulk encryption algorithm: This is used to encrypt the data that is transmitted between the client and the server.
A message authentication code (MAC) algorithm: This is used to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the transmitted data.
The specific algorithms that are included in a cipher suite depend on the specific requirements of the network protocol and the security needs of the communication. Different cipher suites offer different levels of security, and the choice of cipher suite can have a significant impact on the overall security of the communication.