Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which protocol is specifically used for secure communication in network environments?

1. File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

2. Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)

3. Telnet

4. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

The correct answer is: Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is designed to provide secure communication over a computer network, particularly the Internet. It accomplishes this by incorporating the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol, which ensures that data is encrypted during transmission. This encryption protects information from interception and tampering, making HTTPS an essential standard for secure web interactions, such as online banking and shopping. In contrast, the other mentioned protocols do not inherently provide security features. For instance, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) transmits data in plaintext, making it vulnerable to eavesdropping. Telnet also operates without encryption, allowing anyone who can intercept the data to read usernames, passwords, and other sensitive information. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is primarily used for network management and monitoring, and while it can include community string-based security, it still lacks the robust encryption features provided by HTTPS. Thus, HTTPS stands out as the correct choice for secure communication in network environments.