Final answer:
The SSL protocol (Secure Sockets Layer) was found to be susceptible to POODLE attacks in 2014, leading to its deprecation and the adoption of the more secure TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocol.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to this question is A) SSL. In 2014, the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol was found to be susceptible to POODLE attacks. The POODLE attack is a type of security vulnerability that exploits the weakness in the SSL protocol to decrypt sensitive information.
SSL is a cryptographic protocol that provides secure communication over a computer network. It is commonly used for securing web transactions, such as online shopping and banking. The vulnerability in SSL led to its deprecation and the adoption of the more secure TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocol.