You can encrypt form data using Javascript. This can be done, see http://www.movable-type.co.uk/scripts/aes.html . If the data is encrypted using a key, you will have to save this key in javascript code, as well as in server code. Since javascript code will be on the client side and the key will be publicly available, this will not be safe :). The same is true for asymmetric encryption. Different data can be encrypted with the same key and sent to the server.
SSL is designed to solve Internet security problems using public-key cryptography and symmetric encryption technology. The attack of the average person is not allowed. Using SSL, you can be sure that your data is protected, not changed, and there is a third-party certification authority that says that you are who you are.
If you say that I can put the encryption key or code in the applet or active-x object or flash swf and use obfuscation to protect the code, this might be the way. But again, this approach is open to attack and not protected. Obfuscation does not guarantee that your key or algorithm is safe, it just hardens the work of the cracker to get the key.
I hope this helps.
Zafer
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