What does HTTPS indicate?

• A. HTTP
• B. HTTP over TLS/SSL; secure communication over a network
• C. FTP
• D. SSH

Answer: (B)

HTTPS means that the web requests you send and receive are HTTP operating over a secure, encrypted channel. In practice, HTTP is wrapped with TLS (or SSL), so the connection is authenticated and encrypted. This protects the data in transit from eavesdropping, tampering, and impersonation, which is why you’ll often see the secure site indicator and a padlock icon in your browser. It also explains why sensitive information like passwords and payment details stay private as they travel across the network. FTP and SSH are different protocols with distinct purposes (file transfer and secure remote login, respectively), and HTTP by itself isn’t secure—the security comes from adding TLS/SSL, which is what HTTPS does.