🛡️ Free practice test question from: SSH (Security+)

The primary advantage of SSH over Telnet is B) SSH provides encrypted communication, ensuring data security.  

Security: Telnet transmits data in plain text, meaning anyone intercepting the traffic can easily read usernames, passwords, and other sensitive information. SSH encrypts all communication, protecting it from eavesdropping and tampering. This is the crucial difference.  

Multiple Connections: Both SSH and Telnet can handle multiple simultaneous connections. So, A is incorrect.

Speed: While there might be slight performance differences in specific scenarios, speed is not the primary differentiator. Both are generally fast enough for most remote administration tasks. So, C is incorrect.

Authentication: Both SSH and Telnet require authentication (usually username and password). SSH offers more secure authentication methods, but it still requires authentication. So, D is incorrect.  

Therefore, the core reason SSH is preferred is its robust encryption, making it significantly more secure than Telnet.