Which protocol is commonly used for secure communications over a network?

The choice of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) as the correct answer is rooted in their fundamental purpose of securing communications over a network. SSL and TLS are cryptographic protocols designed to provide end-to-end security for data transmission across various types of internet communications.

These protocols work by encrypting the data being sent, ensuring that any intercepted data remains unreadable to unauthorized parties. They also facilitate secure connections in a variety of applications, notably in web browsing (HTTPS), email, and instant messaging, where data protection from eavesdroppers is paramount.

Additionally, SSL and TLS provide authentication of the communicating parties, which helps to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. This aspect is essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information transferred over networks.

In contrast, while protocols like FTP, HTTP, and ICMP are integral to data transmission and network operations, they do not inherently provide the same level of security that SSL/TLS offers. FTP, for instance, allows file transfers but does so without encryption unless it is specifically extended to use FTPS, which still utilizes SSL/TLS for securing the connection. HTTP is similarly unsecured unless wrapped in a TLS layer (resulting in HTTPS). ICMP is primarily used for