What are the potential pitfalls for beginners when using OpenSSL for SSL encryption in PHP?

Potential pitfalls for beginners when using OpenSSL for SSL encryption in PHP include not properly handling errors, not securely storing private keys, and not verifying the server's certificate. To solve these issues, make sure to check for errors after each OpenSSL function call, store private keys in a secure location, and verify the server's certificate to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. 

// Example code snippet for handling errors in OpenSSL functions
$privateKey = openssl_pkey_new();

if (!$privateKey) {
    $error = openssl_error_string();
    die("Private key generation failed: $error");
}

// Continue with the rest of the code

Keywords

OpenSSL SSL encryption PHP beginner pitfalls

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