Dominate GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity 2025 – Unlock Your Cyber Skills!

The protocol that is used for secure communication over a computer network is HTTPS. This protocol extends HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) by adding a layer of security through the use of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security). This security layer encrypts the data transmitted between the client (usually a web browser) and the server, ensuring that sensitive information, such as login credentials and payment details, is protected from eavesdroppers and attackers.

In contrast, HTTP, while commonly used for web traffic, does not include encryption, making it vulnerable to various security threats like man-in-the-middle attacks. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is used for transferring files over a network, but it also does not provide encryption, leaving data exposed during transmission. Telnet, an older protocol for text-based communication, transmits data in plain text and is inherently insecure for any sensitive applications. This makes HTTPS the clear choice for secure communication over networks.