What does the acronym TLS stand for?

The acronym TLS stands for Transport Layer Security, which is a widely used protocol designed to ensure privacy and data integrity between applications and users on the internet. TLS operates between the transport layer and the application layer in the OSI model, providing a secure channel for data transmission.

Transport Layer Security is crucial for protecting sensitive information, such as personal data, financial transactions, and communication, from eavesdropping and tampering. The protocol achieves this by implementing encryption, authentication, and integrity checks. As a successor to the earlier SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol, TLS has become the standard for secure communication on the web and is utilized in various applications, including web browsers, email clients, and instant messaging.

The other options do not accurately depict the meaning or function of the acronym. For instance, "Transmission Line Standard" refers to principles in telecommunications and signal transmission, while "Trusted Link System" and "Transport Layer System" do not represent established protocols in network security. These alternatives fail to capture the specific focus of TLS on security in data transmission over networks.