CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

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Enhance your CompTIA Network+ skills. Prepare with comprehensive questions and hints for a successful exam experience. Excel in network management and troubleshooting!

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Which port does SMTP use when employing TLS encryption?

tcp/25
tcp/587
tcp/80
tcp/443

The correct answer is: tcp/587

The correct answer is that SMTP uses TCP port 587 when employing TLS encryption. This port is specifically designated for "Mail Submission," which allows clients to submit messages to a mail server securely. When using TLS (Transport Layer Security), the data transmitted between the client and server is encrypted, protecting sensitive information during transmission. Port 587 has become the standard port for email submission with STARTTLS, which is an extension of SMTP that upgrades a plain text connection to a secure connection using TLS. This is vital for preventing eavesdropping on email contents as they are being transmitted over the internet. In contrast, while TCP port 25 is traditionally used for SMTP for email relay and delivery, it is less secure and not recommended for client submission due to its vulnerabilities and less secure nature. Port 80 is used for HTTP web traffic, and port 443 is used for HTTPS, which is secure web traffic. These ports do not apply to SMTP, which is specifically concerned with email communications.