This master thesis investigates the QUIC protocol, an innovative transport layer protocol aimed at enhancing the performance of web applications by reducing latency, increasing security, and improving reliability.
The study explores the adoption trends, revealing that its usage is primarily associated with end-users and that a majority of traffic still belongs to Google. It also discusses the ease of setting up servers with QUIC support and the increasing inclusion of QUIC in the infrastructure of various companies and institutions. Despite QUIC's promising potential to revolutionize internet communications, it is essential to understand the challenges it currently faces, especially concerning large TLS certificates.
Through a comprehensive analysis of QUIC's performance compared to the traditional TCP protocol, the research demonstrates that although QUIC has a faster handshake process, the measured overall loading time differences are often within the margin of error. To fully exploit QUIC's advantages, the study highlights the importance of optimizing TLS certificates by employing Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) keys or more optimized bridging with RSA keys, ensuring they don't exceed the amplification limit.
The future of QUIC and HTTP/3 protocols appears promising as the technology continues to evolve and gain acceptance. As QUIC becomes more widely adopted, an increasing number of organizations will recognize its benefits, leading to further implementation and usage. This master thesis concludes that while QUIC represents a significant innovation in the world of internet protocols, it will require additional time and analysis to fully establish itself as a technology capable of delivering concrete benefits in terms of speed, reliability, and security of web connections.
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