Schannel, or Secure Channel, is a security package that provides SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocols for secure communication over networks. It is a component of Microsoft's Windows operating system and is used to facilitate encrypted communication, ensuring that data transmitted between a client and a server is secure and protected from eavesdropping or tampering.
Schannel supports various security protocols, including SSL 2.0, SSL 3.0, TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, TLS 1.2, and TLS 1.3, allowing for secure web browsing, email communication, and other network services. It is primarily used by Internet Information Services (IIS) and other Windows-based services and applications that require secure data transmission.
Schannel works by using certificates and public key infrastructure (PKI) to authenticate the parties involved in the communication and to establish encrypted sessions, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity.