BEAST (Browser Exploit Against SSL/TLS) was a security vulnerability discovered in September 2011. This vulnerability primarily affected the TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocol, specifically the Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) encryption mode in conjunction with the SSLv3 and TLS 1.0 protocols.

BEAST allowed an attacker to eavesdrop on and decrypt encrypted traffic between a web browser and a server. This was achieved by exploiting a weakness in the way CBC encryption was implemented in SSL/TLS.

To protect against BEAST attacks, it was recommended to upgrade to newer versions of TLS and to use alternative encryption methods that were not vulnerable to this weakness. Many web servers and browsers also implemented patches to mitigate the impact of BEAST.

POODLE (Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption) was a security vulnerability in the SSLv3 (Secure Sockets Layer version 3) encryption protocol, discovered in October 2014. This vulnerability allowed an attacker to eavesdrop on and manipulate encrypted traffic between a web browser and a server. The attack exploited a weakness in the way SSLv3 processed blocks of encrypted data with padding. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker could, under certain circumstances, steal sensitive information such as cookies.

Due to the severity of the vulnerability, security experts recommended disabling the use of SSLv3 and upgrading to newer and more secure encryption protocols such as TLS (Transport Layer Security). Many web servers and browsers removed or disabled SSLv3 support to protect against POODLE attacks.

HTTPS stands for "Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure." It is an encrypted version of the HTTP protocol used for transmitting data over the internet. HTTPS establishes a secure connection between a web browser and a web server by encrypting the data during transmission.

The encryption in HTTPS is provided by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or its successor TLS (Transport Layer Security). These protocols enable the encryption of data transmitted between the user's browser and the server, meaning that sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details are protected from potential attackers.

Some key features of HTTPS include:

1. Privacy: By encrypting the transmitted data, HTTPS offers high privacy, ensuring that confidential information is protected from prying eyes.

2. Authentication: HTTPS ensures that the user is connected to the actual server and not a fake one. This is facilitated by digital certificates issued by trusted certification authorities.

3. Integrity: HTTPS ensures the integrity of the transmitted data, ensuring that it has not been manipulated during transmission.

HTTPS is used in a variety of applications, especially in e-commerce websites, online banking, social networks, and other services where privacy and security are paramount. It has largely replaced traditional HTTP in many areas as it provides a more secure way to transmit data over the internet.

SSL stands for "Secure Sockets Layer" and is a protocol for encrypting data transmissions over the internet. It is a security protocol designed to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data exchanged between a web browser and a web server. SSL was later replaced by the improved TLS (Transport Layer Security), although the terms are often used interchangeably.

The primary goal of SSL/TLS is to protect sensitive information exchanged between a user and a website from unauthorized access. This involves encrypting the data during transmission to ensure it cannot be intercepted or manipulated by third parties.

SSL/TLS is used in various areas of the internet, particularly in secure online transactions such as online banking, shopping, and submitting confidential information through web forms. When a website uses SSL/TLS, it is often indicated by "https://" in the URL and a padlock symbol in the browser, signaling that the connection is secure.