A cryptographic protocol is like a secret code. It's used to send messages between two computers in a way that nobody else can understand them. It's like a secret code that only the two computers know how to use. They use this to make sure that nobody else can read the messages they're sending. It's also used to make sure that the messages haven't been changed while they're being sent. It helps keep our information secure and make sure nobody else can get access to it.