code: public static Class getHttpsProviderClass() throws ClassNotFoundException {
          if (_httpsProviderClass == null) {
              // [ 1520925 ] SSL patch
              Provider[] sslProviders = Security.getProviders("SSLContext.SSLv3");
              // >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
              // IBM-FIX: Prevent NPE when SSLv3 is disabled.
              //          Security.getProviders(String) returns 
              //          null, not an empty array, when there
              //          are no providers. 
              // <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
              //
              // if (sslProviders.length > 0) {
              //
              if (sslProviders != null && sslProviders.length > 0) {
              // >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
              // END IBM-FIX
              // <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
                  _httpsProviderClass = sslProviders[0].getClass();
              }       	
  
              // >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
              // IBM-FIX: Try TLS if SSLv3 does not have a 
              //          provider. 
              // <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
              if (_httpsProviderClass == null) {
                  sslProviders = Security.getProviders("SSLContext.TLS");
                  if (sslProviders != null && sslProviders.length > 0) {
                      _httpsProviderClass = sslProviders[0].getClass();
                  }
              }
              // >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
              // END IBM-FIX
              // <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  
              if (_httpsProviderClass == null) {
                  _httpsProviderClass = Class.forName( JSSE_PROVIDER_CLASS );
              }	
          }
          return _httpsProviderClass;
      }
docs: get the Https Provider Class
  if it's been set already return it - otherwise
  check with the Security package and take the first available provider
  if all fails take the default provider class
  @return the HttpsProviderClass
  @throws ClassNotFoundException