Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →- A
SNMP
Why wrong: SNMP is for network management, not web traffic.
- B
FTP
Why wrong: FTP is unencrypted.
- C
HTTPS
HTTPS encrypts data with TLS.
- D
HTTP
Why wrong: HTTP is unencrypted.
Question 320 of 1,010
Quick Answer
The correct answer is HTTPS, as it encrypts all communication between a client and a web server using TLS/SSL, rendering captured packets unreadable to a network sniffer. Without encryption, a sniffer can intercept plaintext data like cookies, URLs, and form submissions, but HTTPS ensures confidentiality and integrity by wrapping HTTP traffic in a secure tunnel. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this concept tests your understanding of countermeasures against passive eavesdropping—a core topic in the network sniffing domain. A common trap is confusing HTTPS with HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS); remember that HSTS enforces HTTPS but does not itself encrypt traffic. For a quick memory tip: think “HTTPS = HTTP + TLS, sniffers see only gibberish.”
CEH Network and Web Application Attacks Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of network and web application attacks. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A network administrator wants to prevent an attacker from using a network sniffer to capture traffic between a client and a web server. Which protocol should be enforced to encrypt all communication?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
HTTPS
HTTPS (HTTP over TLS, RFC 2818) encrypts all communication between a client and a web server using TLS/SSL, preventing a network sniffer from capturing plaintext data such as cookies, URLs, or form submissions. This ensures confidentiality and integrity of the web traffic, directly countering passive eavesdropping attacks.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption with authentication or assume that any protocol with 'secure' in its name (like SNMPv3) is suitable for web traffic, when the question specifically requires a protocol that encrypts client-to-web-server communication — only HTTPS directly fulfills that role.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
HTTPS uses TLS handshake to negotiate a symmetric session key via asymmetric cryptography (e.g., RSA or ECDHE), then encrypts all application-layer data with ciphers like AES-GCM. A subtle behavior: even if an attacker captures the encrypted traffic, they cannot decrypt it without the session key, but they can still observe metadata such as server IP, domain (via SNI), and traffic volume — a limitation known as traffic analysis. In real-world scenarios, tools like Wireshark can capture HTTPS traffic, but the payload remains unreadable unless the attacker has the private key or performs a man-in-the-middle attack with a rogue certificate.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CEH exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Network and Web Application Attacks — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CEH question test?
Network and Web Application Attacks — This question tests Network and Web Application Attacks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: HTTPS — HTTPS (HTTP over TLS, RFC 2818) encrypts all communication between a client and a web server using TLS/SSL, preventing a network sniffer from capturing plaintext data such as cookies, URLs, or form submissions. This ensures confidentiality and integrity of the web traffic, directly countering passive eavesdropping attacks.
What should I do if I get this CEH question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CEH practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CEH exam.
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