What are the primary categories of classified information?

The primary categories of classified information are indeed Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. Each of these classifications serves a specific purpose and reflects the level of sensitivity and potential damage to national security that could occur if the information were disclosed without authorization.

Confidential is the lowest level of classification, applied to information that could reasonably be expected to cause some degree of damage to national security if disclosed. Secret is the next level up, reserved for information that could cause serious damage to national security if disclosed. Top Secret is the highest classification and is used for information that could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if disclosed.

Understanding these classifications is crucial for anyone dealing with classified information, as it informs the handling, storage, and sharing protocols necessary to maintain national security standards. The other options elaborate on incorrect or non-standard categories; for instance, Restricted and Sensitive are not primary classifications within the U.S. classification system.