Websites using OpenSSL

Okay, let s break down OpenSSL, focusing on the requested details: overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

1. OpenSSL Overview

• What it is: OpenSSL is a robust, full-featured, and widely used open-source toolkit implementing the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. These protocols are fundamental for encrypting communication over the internet, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity. It also provides a general-purpose cryptography library.

• Core Functionality:

  • SSL/TLS Implementation: The primary purpose. It handles the handshake process, encryption, decryption, and authentication involved in secure connections (HTTPS, SMTPS, etc.).
  • Cryptography Library: Offers a wide range of cryptographic algorithms, including:
    • Symmetric ciphers (AES, DES, etc.)
    • Asymmetric ciphers (RSA, ECC)
    • Hashing algorithms (SHA-256, SHA-3, etc.)
    • Key agreement protocols (Diffie-Hellman, etc.)
    • Digital signature algorithms
  • Certificate Management: Tools for creating, managing, and verifying digital certificates (X.509). This is crucial for establishing trust in secure connections.
  • Command-Line Tool: openssl - A powerful command-line utility for performing various cryptographic operations, certificate management, and testing.

• Key Characteristics:

  • Open Source: The source code is freely available, allowing for inspection, modification, and distribution. This fosters community development and security audits. Licensed under the Apache License 2.0.
  • Cross-Platform: Runs on a wide variety of operating systems, including Linux, Windows, macOS, and various Unix-like systems.
  • Widely Adopted: Used by a vast number of applications, servers, and devices to secure internet communications. It s a foundational component of the internet infrastructure.
  • Command line & API: OpenSSL has a command line tool which is very helpful for testing and development and also has bindings for many different programming languages.

2. Revenue

• Zero Direct Revenue: OpenSSL itself does not generate direct revenue. It s an open-source project.

• Funding Model: The OpenSSL project relies on:

  • Donations: Individuals, organizations, and companies donate to support the development and maintenance of OpenSSL.
  • Consulting/Support Services: Some organizations offer commercial support, consulting, and training related to OpenSSL, and they generate revenue from those services. However, this revenue doesn t directly go to the core OpenSSL project, but rather to those individual companies.
  • Sponsorships: Companies sponsor the project with funding or in-kind contributions (e.g., developer time).
  • OpenSSL Software Foundation: The foundation is a non-profit with the express goal of providing financial support and maintaining the software.

3. Alternatives

Here are some alternatives to OpenSSL, categorized by functionality:

• General-Purpose Cryptography Libraries (similar scope to OpenSSL):

  • BoringSSL: A fork of OpenSSL maintained by Google. It s used extensively within Google s products and is generally more focused on the specific needs of Google s environment. It s still open source.
  • LibreSSL: A fork of OpenSSL created after the Heartbleed vulnerability. It focuses on code cleanup, security, and modernizing the codebase. It s generally considered to be more secure than OpenSSL.
  • GnuTLS: Another open-source TLS implementation.
  • wolfSSL: A lightweight TLS library, often used in embedded systems. It offers commercial support options.
  • mbed TLS: Another lightweight TLS library designed for embedded systems. Now part of Arm.

• Language-Specific Cryptography Libraries: These are often higher-level and easier to use within a particular programming language.

  • Python: cryptography, pyOpenSSL
  • Java: Bouncy Castle, Java Cryptography Architecture (JCA) (built into the JDK)
  • .NET: .NET Cryptography classes (built into the .NET framework/core)
  • Go: crypto package (built into the Go standard library)

• Hardware Security Modules (HSMs): Physical devices that provide secure storage for cryptographic keys and perform cryptographic operations. These are used when the highest levels of security are required.

Choosing an Alternative: The best alternative depends on your specific needs:

• Security: LibreSSL is often favored for its focus on code cleanup and security.
• Performance: BoringSSL is often optimized for speed within Google s infrastructure.
• Ease of Use: Language-specific libraries are generally easier to use within their respective languages.
• Embedded Systems: wolfSSL and mbed TLS are designed for resource-constrained environments.
• Compliance: Some libraries may have certifications relevant to specific compliance standards (e.g., FIPS 140-2).
• Licensing: Consider the licensing terms of each library.

4. Pricing

• OpenSSL, LibreSSL, BoringSSL, GnuTLS: Free (open source). You can use them without paying any licensing fees. However, you might need to pay for commercial support services if you need help with integration, deployment, or troubleshooting.

• wolfSSL, mbed TLS (commercial versions): Have commercial licensing options with associated costs. The pricing typically depends on the number of deployments, the type of support required, and the specific features used.

5. Customer Care Details

• OpenSSL:

  • Community Support: The primary form of support is through the OpenSSL community.
    • Mailing Lists: OpenSSL has various mailing lists for different purposes (e.g., users, developers).
    • Forums/Q&A Sites: Stack Overflow (using the openssl tag) is a good place to ask questions.
    • GitHub Issues: For reporting bugs and suggesting features.
    • IRC: There are IRC channels available
  • No Official Commercial Support: The OpenSSL project itself does not provide direct commercial support.
  • Third-Party Support: Many companies offer commercial support, consulting, and training services related to OpenSSL. You can find these by searching for OpenSSL support or OpenSSL consulting.

• LibreSSL:

  • Community Support: Similar to OpenSSL, LibreSSL relies on community support through mailing lists, forums, and GitHub.
  • No Official Commercial Support: Generally, no direct commercial support from the core project.

• BoringSSL:

  • Limited External Support: Because it is mostly used within Google, there s very little in the way of outside support options available

• wolfSSL, mbed TLS (commercial versions):

  • Commercial Support: They offer direct commercial support to paying customers, typically including:
    • Email support
    • Phone support (depending on the support level)
    • Access to a knowledge base
    • Guaranteed response times
    • Custom development services (potentially)

Important Considerations:

• Security Updates: Staying up-to-date with the latest security patches is crucial for any TLS/cryptography library. Monitor security advisories from the OpenSSL project (or the project you are using) and apply updates promptly.
• Complexity: Working with cryptography can be complex. Consider using higher-level libraries or frameworks when possible to simplify development and reduce the risk of errors.
• Legal Requirements: Some industries have specific legal requirements related to cryptography. Ensure that the library you choose meets those requirements.

In summary, OpenSSL is a vital and widely used open-source project. While it doesn t generate direct revenue and relies on community support, it s a critical component of internet security. Alternatives exist, and the best choice depends on your specific requirements and priorities. Commercial support is available from third-party vendors for OpenSSL and is directly offered for some commercial alternatives like wolfSSL and mbed TLS.