Title: Describe common networking protocols.
Course: Cybersecurity Fundamentals (10302-I) > Section: Examining Computer Networks as a Foundational Element of Cybersecurity

Description should include descriptions of

- application layers protocols
  - Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)―used to browse the World Wide Web; the foundation for data communication on the web, defining how clients (e.g., web browser) request information from servers and how servers respond
  - Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)―the secure version of HTTP, using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption to protect the data being transmitted between a browser and website, making it essential for handling sensitive information like passwords and credit card details
  - File Transfer Protocol (FTP)―used for the transfer of computer files between a client and a server on a network and often used for uploading website files to a hosting server; transfers data in plain text and is generally not secure on its own
  - Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)―provides secure file transfer capabilities; runs over the SSH (Secure Shell) protocol to encrypt both commands and data during transmission, making it a much safer alternative to standard FTP
- transport layer protocols
  - Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)―a transport layer communications protocol used to send network data between hosts; TCP is a connection-oriented protocol that provides reliable message transmission
  - User Datagram Protocol (UDP)―a transport layer communications protocol used to send network data between hosts; UDP is referred to as an unreliable protocol because it does not guarantee message delivery or in-order message reception
- Internet layer protocols
  - Internet Protocol (IP)―the primary network protocol by which data is sent from one computer to another; computers are identified on the internet using Internet Protocol addresses
  - Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)―primarily used for network diagnostics and error reporting; a common use is the ping command, which sends an ICMP message to check if a network device is active and responsive
  - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)―used to automatically assign IP addresses and other network configuration parameters (like the subnet mask and default gateway) to devices when they connect to a network; this is how a phone or laptop gets an IP address when it joins a Wi-Fi network.