What role does TLS play in web security?

TLS, or Transport Layer Security, is a crucial protocol that ensures secure communication over a computer network, specifically between web browsers and servers. Its primary role is to encrypt the data being transmitted, which protects sensitive information from being intercepted by malicious actors during transmission. This encryption ensures that even if data packets are captured, they cannot be easily deciphered by unauthorized individuals.

This encryption not only enhances privacy but also helps to authenticate the identities of the parties involved in the communication. By establishing a secure connection, TLS safeguards against various types of attacks, such as man-in-the-middle attacks, where an attacker might try to intercept or alter communications between the user and the web server.

The other options highlight important security features but do not accurately describe the role of TLS. For instance, firewalls provide a barrier against unauthorized access but do not handle encryption directly. Managing passwords falls under the domain of user account management systems, and while protecting passwords is essential, it is not the function of TLS. Additionally, scanning for viruses is a task typically carried out by antivirus software, not a protocol like TLS, which focuses solely on secure communication.