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Which protocol is specifically designed for transferring large files securely?

  1. HTTP

  2. FTP

  3. TFTP

  4. SMTP

The correct answer is: FTP

The choice of FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is appropriate because it is specifically designed for transferring files over a network. FTP allows for uploading and downloading files from a server, and it supports larger file sizes efficiently. It offers a range of features that make it suitable for secure file transfers, especially when paired with protocols like FTPS or SFTP, which add layers of security through encryption. FTP operates over TCP, ensuring reliable delivery of files, and it provides mechanisms for user authentication and access control. This makes it a robust choice for organizations that need to transfer large files securely, as it can handle both the large data volume and provide a certain level of protection against unauthorized access during the transfer process. In contrast, HTTP is primarily designed for transferring web pages and related content, and while it can handle file transfers, it’s not optimized specifically for large files. TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) is much simpler than FTP and is used primarily for transferring small files without any authentication, making it unsuitable for secure transfers. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is focused on sending emails and is not designed for file transfers at all. Thus, FTP stands out as the best protocol for this purpose.