What protocol ensures the privacy of communication between applications?

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. It ensures the privacy and integrity of transmitted data between applications by encrypting the information exchanged between clients and servers. This encryption protects the data from eavesdropping and tampering during transmission, which is crucial for maintaining confidentiality in communications, particularly for sensitive information such as payment details, personal data, and login credentials.

While Secure Socket Layer (SSL) also provides a similar function as an earlier protocol designed for securing data transmission, TLS is considered its successor and offers enhanced security features and improvements. Therefore, while SSL contributed to secure communications, it's TLS that is widely used today.

SSH (Secure Shell) and VPN (Virtual Private Network) serve different purposes in the realm of security. SSH is primarily used for secure remote administration of systems and secure file transfers, while a VPN establishes a secure tunnel for internet traffic, providing privacy while browsing. Neither of these protocols is specifically focused on securing the communication between applications in the same way TLS does.