ISC2 CC Network Security Practice Question
Which of the following ports is used by HTTPS for secure web traffic?
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
✓
443
HTTPS uses port 443 by default.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
443
Why this is correct
Port 443 carries HTTP over TLS, encrypting web traffic between client and server. This directly satisfies the stem's requirement for HTTPS, the secure variant of HTTP. Port 80 serves unencrypted HTTP, while 22 and 21 belong to SSH and FTP respectively, so 443 is the sole match.
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80
Why it's wrong here
Port 80 carries unencrypted HTTP, so traffic on it is not secured by TLS. It is tempting as the standard web port, but HTTPS deliberately uses port 443 to distinguish encrypted web traffic from plaintext HTTP.
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22
Why it's wrong here
Port 22 carries SSH for encrypted remote administration, not HTTPS web traffic. It is tempting because SSH also provides encryption, but its purpose is terminal access and secure file transfer, whereas HTTPS serves web content over port 443.
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53
Why it's wrong here
Port 53 carries DNS queries and responses, not HTTPS web traffic. It is tempting because DNS underpins web browsing by resolving names to addresses, but it transports name resolution rather than the encrypted HTTP session itself, which uses port 443.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Secure Network Architecture and Design
Key term
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS, is the secure version of HTTP that encrypts data between a web browser and a website using SSL/TLS to protect sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.