a secure sockets layer, is a layer of security over and above the regular http (hypertext transfer protocol - the protocol used for basic website viewing) to ensure that communications between your browser and the server you are viewing files on, such as your bank, if they have online access, are secure, and that no one watches your activities.
of course, it is not the only protocol... because if you are wireless, like i am with my laptop, you need wireless security as well, so no one can sniff and/or intercept the keys needed for ssl communications, and watch/modify what you are doing.
now, all that is good and gravy, in a perfect world, except, with secure connections, you need passwords and such, and of course, the hardware you are using, such as a wireless router, needs to support such security measures, in order to send the right packets (blocks of data that make up a transmission of information to and from a computer) to and from the computer receiving and originating these requests.
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quite a watered down approach, and it is probably incorrect, technically speaking. but you might be able to get the concept being presented.