class A
{
    // Note: List is just example, I am interested in objects in general.
    private List<string> _items = new List<string>() { "hello" }

    public List<string> Items
    {
        get
        {
            // Option A (not read-only), can be modified from outside:
            return _items;

            // Option B (sort-of read-only):
            return new List<string>( _items );

            // Option C, must change return type to ReadOnlyCollection<string>
            return new ReadOnlyCollection<string>( _items );
        }
    }
}

List<string> someList = ( new A() ).Items;

public class A
{
    private int _n;
    public int N
    {
        get { return _n; }
        set { _n = value; }
    }
}

public interface IReadOnlyA
{
    public int N { get; }
}
public class A : IReadOnlyA
{
    private int _n;
    public int N
    {
        get { return _n; }
        set { _n = value; }
    }
}