Which protocol is commonly associated with secure web browsing?

The protocol commonly associated with secure web browsing is HTTPS, which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It establishes a secure communication channel over a computer network, primarily the internet, by encrypting the data exchanged between the user's browser and the web server. This encryption is typically achieved using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocols, which help protect sensitive information such as personal data, credit card numbers, and login credentials from being intercepted by malicious actors.

In contrast, standard HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) does not provide this level of security, making it vulnerable to eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. Other protocols like SMPT (likely referring to SMTP, which is related to email transfer) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) serve different purposes and are not primarily focused on securing web traffic, thus solidifying HTTPS's role as the protocol designed specifically for secure web transactions.