What protocol uses port 443 for secure communications?

The protocol that uses port 443 for secure communications is HTTPS, which stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure. HTTPS is an extension of HTTP and is widely used for secure communication over a computer network. It achieves this security by utilizing protocols such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security).

When a user connects to a website via HTTPS, the connection is encrypted, which not only protects the data transmitted between the user's browser and the web server but also helps to authenticate the identity of the website. This is crucial for safeguarding sensitive information such as login credentials, payment details, and personal data from eavesdroppers and man-in-the-middle attacks.

In contrast, other protocols mentioned do not use port 443 for secure communications. FTP (File Transfer Protocol), which is used for transferring files over the internet, typically operates on ports 20 and 21. HTTP operates on port 80 and does not include encryption, making it less secure for transmitting sensitive information. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), used for sending emails, generally operates on port 25 and can also use port 587 for secure submissions but is not related to web page transfers like HTTP or HTTPS. Thus, HTTPS is the clear choice when it comes