What security feature protects internet communications by encrypting traffic?

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a widely adopted security protocol that enhances the privacy and integrity of data transmitted over the internet by encrypting the traffic between clients and servers. It is designed to provide secure communications over a computer network, ensuring that the data remains confidential and cannot be tampered with during transmission. TLS is most commonly used in web browsers to secure data transmitted via HTTPS, which helps protect sensitive information like credit card numbers and personal details from eavesdropping or modification by unauthorized parties.

In contrast, while IPSec is also related to securing internet communications, it focuses on securing IP packets and is often used in Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). SSH, or Secure Shell, is primarily used for secure remote access to systems, but it serves a different purpose than securing general internet communications. VPN Tunneling provides a secure connection between endpoints over which data can be transmitted safely, and while it involves encryption, it is not an overarching standard like TLS that encrypts data across various applications on the internet. Thus, TLS is the most appropriate and comprehensive answer for encrypting internet communications.