What protocol is utilized for secure data transmission over the Internet?

The correct choice for secure data transmission over the Internet is HTTPS, which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. HTTPS is an extension of HTTP that incorporates security measures through the use of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocols. This enables the encryption of data exchanges between a client (such as a web browser) and a server, effectively protecting sensitive information from interception during transmission.

The key advantage of HTTPS is its ability to safeguard data integrity, authentication of the communicating parties, and confidentiality of the transmitted information. This is particularly crucial for online transactions and the exchange of personal data, as it helps prevent eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and data tampering.

In contrast, the other protocols mentioned do not provide this level of security during data transmission. HTTP, for instance, transmits data in plain text, making it vulnerable to various security threats. FTP is designed for file transfers but does not encrypt the data being transferred, leaving it exposed to interception. Similarly, SMTP is used primarily for sending emails without inherent encryption, although it can be secured using additional methods like STARTTLS, but it is not natively secure like HTTPS.