Cyber Security Certifications Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The authentication method that transmits the username and password in plain text is PAP, which stands for Password Authentication Protocol. PAP operates by sending the credentials directly over the network during the authentication process without encryption. This can lead to significant security vulnerabilities, as anyone who can intercept the network traffic can easily read the username and password as they are transmitted unprotected.

Given that PAP does not incorporate any encryption or security measures during the data transmission, it is considered relatively weak compared to other authentication protocols. For instance, CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol) employs a challenge-response mechanism to secure transmissions against eavesdropping, while Kerberos and OAuth use more complex methods involving tickets and tokens respectively, which enhance security and protect against interception. Thus, PAP's straightforward transmission method clearly distinguishes it as the option that sends credentials in an unprotected format.