Which protocol provides secure file transfer over the Internet?

The correct answer is SFTP, which stands for Secure File Transfer Protocol. SFTP is a secure version of the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) that provides a secure channel for transferring files over a network. It uses encryption protocols such as SSH (Secure Shell) to ensure that both the commands and the data being transferred are encrypted, which helps protect against eavesdropping, tampering, and data interception.

SFTP also offers additional advantages, such as features for managing sessions and resuming interrupted transfers more efficiently. Its ability to operate seamlessly over SSH gives it robust security, making it highly suitable for transferring sensitive data securely over the Internet.

In contrast, while FTPS (File Transfer Protocol Secure) also provides secure file transfer, it does so using SSL/TLS for encryption, which can sometimes complicate the connection process compared to SFTP. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) do not incorporate encryption, making them unsuitable for secure file transfers as they transmit data in plain text, exposing sensitive information to potential threats during transmission.