What is a common application of encryption in communication?

In the context of secure communication, SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security) is a widely recognized application of encryption. SSL and its successor TLS are protocols designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. They do this by encrypting the data transmitted between clients and servers, ensuring that sensitive information remains private and secure from eavesdroppers.

Using SSL/TLS creates a secure channel, which is crucial for protecting data during transmission, particularly for sensitive operations such as online banking, shopping, or transferring confidential information. This encryption not only assures the integrity of the data but also authenticates the parties involved, preventing impersonation and man-in-the-middle attacks.

In contrast, the other options, while significant in their roles, do not inherently provide the same level of encryption. For example, FTP is primarily used for transferring files, but it does not include built-in encryption unless implemented with additional protocols like FTPS. SMTP, used for sending emails, also lacks encryption by default, although it can utilize STARTTLS to enable a secure connection. HTTP is the foundation of data communication on the web but does not include encryption by itself, which is why HTTPS (HTTP over SSL/TLS) is preferred for secure transactions.

Therefore, SSL/T