An alternative? : http://www.tcpcrypt.org/
I like that, as opposed to requiring users to have to install some plugin before they can even talk to the server.
In preventing passive listeners, like Firesheep, this would work 100% effectively anywhere it can work at all. The only way it reduces security is in making people who don't understand MITM attacks feel they're safer than they are - at absolute worst it's like you don't have it installed.