Which protocol ensures secure communication over the Internet?

The protocol that ensures secure communication over the Internet is HTTPS. This is an extension of HTTP and incorporates security features to protect the data being sent between a user's web browser and the server. HTTPS uses encryption protocols such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security), which encrypts the data in transit, making it much more difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept or tamper with that data.

By employing encryption, HTTPS not only ensures the confidentiality of the information exchanged, such as personal data or payment details, but also provides authentication, ensuring that users are communicating with the intended server and not an imposter. This is crucial for maintaining trust in online transactions and interactions.

In contrast, HTTP does not provide these security features, making it vulnerable to eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. IP, which stands for Internet Protocol, is responsible for routing packets of data across networks, but it does not provide any built-in security measures. SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is used primarily for sending emails and does not ensure secure communication over the Internet in the same way that HTTPS does.