SSL-based traffic leveraging HTTPS connections rose sharply through 2017. Almost 80 percent of all pages loaded in Chrome over the past two months used HTTPS. The rise of free and low-cost SSL certificates means cybercriminals can also get their hands on legitimate digital credentials to slip past IT defenses. A flaw in the way SSL/transport layer security (TLS) certificates are exchanged that could allow malicious actors to develop new cybersecurity threats. The discovery speaks to the need for stricter SSL security protocols.”]