What is the purpose of the secure copy command (scp)?

The secure copy command, commonly known as scp, is primarily used for securely transferring files between a local machine and a remote system over a network. The key feature of scp is its use of SSH (Secure Shell) for data transfer, which ensures that the data is encrypted during transmission, safeguarding it from eavesdropping or unauthorized access.

When considering the purpose of scp, option B highlights its function of downloading files from a remote source, which is indeed one of its primary uses. It allows users to obtain files stored on a remote server and bring them to their local system in a secure manner.

While the command can also be used to copy files to a remote server, the question focuses specifically on the action of downloading, making option B the relevant choice in this context. Other options such as uploading files, deleting files, or compressing files do not accurately describe the functionality of scp, as those tasks fall under different commands or tools used in the Linux environment.