Which protocol is commonly used for secure data transmission over the internet?

The choice of HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, is correct because it specifically ensures secure communication over a computer network, primarily the internet. HTTPS is essentially an extension of HTTP that incorporates SSL/TLS protocols to encrypt the data transmitted between a user's web browser and the web server. This encryption helps protect the integrity and confidentiality of data, making it essential for tasks such as online banking, shopping, and any activity that involves sensitive data, like personal information or credit card details.

The presence of the 'S' in HTTPS indicates that it is secure, safeguarding against eavesdropping, tampering, and man-in-the-middle attacks. This security layer is crucial as it builds trust between users and web services, which is vital for the operating effectiveness of e-commerce and online communication.

While other protocols listed, such as FTP, SMTP, and HTTP, are important in their respective domains, they do not provide the same level of secure transmission. FTP is primarily used for transferring files but lacks encryption by default. SMTP is a protocol for sending emails, which also does not encrypt data unless used in conjunction with secure tunneling methods. HTTP, while widely used for web traffic, does not offer security features, making it vulnerable to various attacks. Thus,