D. Vulnerability of Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
MD5 is a standard that is widely used, primarily to verify the integrity of data using 128-bit message digest from the input of message which can be of variable length. It is claimed to be as unique as a finger print. The algorithm was developed by MIT Professor Ronald L. Rivest. The algorithm was intended to be used in digital signature applications. The algorithm facilitates the secure compression of large files before being encrypted with a secret key under public key cryptosystem. MD5 is an extension of the MD4 algorithm which offers increase assurance of data security. [4] .However, weaknesses have been discovered in MD5 which allow for collisions in output which translates to attackers creating cryptographic tokens that appear to be genuine [19]. Currently there are no forthright fixes unless the Certificate Authorities stop using MD5 and switch to a more secure SHA-1 algorithm. [15].