Which one of the following protocols is used for secure communication over a computer network ?

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the primary protocol used for secure communication over a computer network, specifically the internet. It is an extension of HTTP and uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) or its predecessor, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), to encrypt the data exchanged between a web browser and a website. This ensures data confidentiality, integrity, and authentication.

• HTTP: The standard protocol for data transfer on the web, but it lacks encryption, making data vulnerable to interception.
• FTP: Used for transferring files between a client and a server; standard FTP transmits data in plain text.
• DHCP: A network management protocol used to dynamically assign IP addresses to devices on a network; it is not a communication protocol for secure data exchange.