If you're using Netscape 4.x, select Communicator from the menu, open Security Info, and click on the Navigator link. Make sure the "Enable SSL v3" box is checked. Click on the Configure button next to this item. You will see security options referring to the number of bits used in encryption. The highest level available domestically is 128-bit encryption. If you have this option listed, make sure it is checked.

If you're using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x, select View from the menu, open Internet Options, and click on the Advanced tab. Under Security, make sure the SSL 3.0 box is checked.

Why are more bits better?

Breaking an encryption algorithm requires trying every possible key. The more bits used in an algorithm, the more keys have to be tried. Therefore, if you have more bits, the encryption is more difficult to break. With a 40-bit key, there are about a trillion combinations possible. With a 128-bit key, there are about two hundred trillion times more combinations possible.