TLS is the successor to which protocol?

• A. SSH
• B. SSL
• C. IPSec
• D. S/MIME

Answer: (B)

TLS is the successor to SSL, the earlier protocol used to secure connections like HTTPS. SSL had known weaknesses and inconsistencies, and TLS was designed to provide stronger cryptography, better security features, and a clearer handshake process while remaining compatible with the way SSL deployments operated. The other options aren’t direct successors: SSH is for secure remote access, IPSec secures IP traffic at the network layer, and S/MIME handles encryption for email. The evolution from SSL to TLS reflects tightening security for transport-layer communications.