When was SSL deemed insecure?

SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, was recognized as insecure due to numerous vulnerabilities and weaknesses in its protocol over time. The protocol itself was developed in the 1990s, but various versions had serious flaws that were being exploited. By 2004, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) made it clear that SSL was not suitable for use, especially since newer protocols like TLS (Transport Layer Security) had been introduced to address these vulnerabilities.

The timeline leading up to 2004 included various notable security incidents, and the emergence of more robust encryption standards had made SSL less desirable. Thus, by the beginning of 2004, it was widely acknowledged within the cybersecurity community that SSL should not be relied upon for secure communications, paving the way for a broader shift to TLS protocols. This recognition of SSL's insecurities was critical for the development of stronger encryption practices that maintain data integrity and confidentiality today.