TELNET is typically used to provide what kind of session, and how are credentials transmitted?

• A. TELNET is used to provide secure remote login sessions and credentials are encrypted.
• B. TELNET is used to provide secure file transfer, with credentials encrypted.
• C. TELNET provides user-oriented command line login sessions with credentials transmitted in clear text.
• D. TELNET provides anonymous access with no credentials required.

Answer: (D)

Telnet is used to establish a remote login session where a user can access a command-line interface on a distant host. A key point is that Telnet does not encrypt its traffic; when you enter your username and password, those credentials are transmitted in clear text over the network. This makes Telnet insecure for sensitive or untrusted networks, which is why SSH is generally preferred today. The idea of anonymous access with no credentials is not how Telnet typically operates—logins require credentials, and the standard behavior is to prompt for them. So the best description is a user-oriented command-line login session with credentials sent in clear text, highlighting the security risk that led to adopting secure alternatives like SSH.