What does HTTPS protocol provide for data exchange?

The HTTPS protocol plays a critical role in secure data exchange over the internet, and option B accurately highlights its key functions. HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, which combines the standard HTTP protocol with an additional layer of security provided by SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security).

This enhanced security mechanism is vital as it ensures that the data transmitted between a user's browser and a web server is encrypted, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept or read the information. This encryption provides confidentiality, which is essential for protecting sensitive information such as login credentials, payment details, and personal data during online transactions.

Furthermore, HTTPS also provides authentication, which helps verify that the website the user is connecting to is legitimate and not a malicious site attempting to steal information. This is typically achieved through digital certificates issued by trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs), adding a layer of trust to the website the user is interacting with.

While faster data transfer speed, free access to all data, and cloud storage solutions are relevant topics in the context of internet services, they do not accurately describe the security features guaranteed by using HTTPS.