Internet security

SSL is an Internet security standard. Transmission using SSL allows authentification between the communicating devices. The transferred data is encoded.


A certificate is issued by a recognised body confirming that the data is being sent to the legitimate recipient, or comes from the right source. In order to guarantee confidentiality, the computers of both parties share a key for the date exchange. This means that data cannot be read or altered by third parties during the transmission. SSL means that communication between Web browser and server is more secure. SSL establishes a communication channel between the two which presents access by third parties, and allows the safe transfer of important information.


Of course your personal data is encoded when it is sent online to the Fürst Donnersmarck Foundation. SSL-encoding is usually shown by a closed padlock symbol. On our web-site we use a frame-set, which means that your browser cannot recognise that the contents is being transferred in encoded form, and the lock will be open.

An e-mail passes through various distribution nodes where it might be read or altered. PGP is a software which prevents this be encoding the message so that only sender and receiver can read it. A digital signature also confirms who the message is from. When the user "signs" a document digitally before the transmission then anybody can recognise that it has not been altered since. If the message is changed or replaced then the signature will no longer be valid. In this way it is also clear that a message has been sent by a specific person; with PGP nobody can send a message under somebody else's name.

As with buildings, a firewall is installed to isolate one structure - in this case a computer or network - from others. Any unwanted or uncontrolled communication is obstructed by the firewall. In this way a system is protected against most attempts to gain unauthorised access.