What command is used to set an unencrypted password to protect privileged EXEC mode?

The command used to set an unencrypted password for protecting privileged EXEC mode is "enable password password." This command assigns a specified password that users must enter to access privileged EXEC mode (also known as enable mode).

When configuring a router or switch, network administrators often set this password to help secure access to critical device configurations. Unlike "enable secret," which encrypts the password using a stronger hashing algorithm, the "enable password" command stores the password in plaintext, making it less secure. Therefore, while it does provide a basic level of authentication, it's essential to consider using "enable secret" for enhanced security.

The other options do not fulfill the requirement of setting an unencrypted password for privileged EXEC mode. For instance, "enable secret password" actually creates an encrypted password while "password enable" and "set enable password" are not valid commands in Cisco IOS for this purpose.