Which of the following protocols uses the X.509 certificates for authenticating a connection and exchanging the symmetric keys over a network?

The correct answer is TLS because it is a cryptographic protocol specifically designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. One of the key features of TLS is its use of X.509 certificates, which serve the purpose of authenticating the identity of the parties involved in the communication. When a TLS session is established, these certificates help verify that the server the client is connecting to is indeed who it claims to be, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.

Additionally, during the TLS handshake process, the use of these certificates facilitates the secure exchange of symmetric keys that will be used for encrypting the actual data transmitted between the client and server. This ensures that even if data is intercepted during transmission, it remains unreadable without the corresponding symmetric key.

By leveraging strong authentication through X.509 certificates and establishing a secure channel using symmetric encryption, TLS plays a crucial role in protecting sensitive data across the internet. The combination of these features is vital for establishing trust and ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of transmitted information.