Understanding Encryption and Hashing

What is the primary purpose of message encryption?

• To protect the confidentiality of information.

• To reduce the size of the message data.

• To ensure messages are easily readable by anyone.

• To enhance the speed of message delivery.

Define a Message Authentication Code (MAC).

• A Message Authentication Code (MAC) is a cryptographic checksum on data that provides integrity and authenticity.

• A Message Authentication Code (MAC) is a type of encryption key.

• A Message Authentication Code (MAC) is a digital signature for emails.

• A Message Authentication Code (MAC) is a method for compressing data.

How does a hash function differ from encryption?

• Both hash functions and encryption are two-way processes for securing data.

• A hash function is one-way and used for integrity, while encryption is two-way and used for confidentiality.

• Encryption is used for data integrity, while hash functions are used for data confidentiality.

• A hash function can be reversed to retrieve the original data, while encryption cannot.

What are the common algorithms used for hashing?

• HMAC

• AES

• MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512, bcrypt

• RSA

Explain the role of keys in message encryption.

• Keys are primarily for data storage management.

• Keys are irrelevant in message encryption.

• Keys are essential for encrypting and decrypting messages, ensuring confidentiality and security.

• Keys are only used for digital signatures.

What is the significance of a salt in hashing?

• A salt enhances security by preventing hash collisions and defending against precomputed attacks.

• A salt is a type of encryption key.

• A salt is used to increase the speed of hashing.

• A salt is only necessary for large datasets.

Describe a scenario where MAC is essential.

• A military environment where sensitive information must be protected from unauthorized access.

• A corporate office where employees share files openly.

• A public library with unrestricted internet access.

• A school playground where children play freely.

What is a collision in the context of hash functions?

• A collision is when two different inputs generate the same hash value.

• A collision is when a hash function produces a longer hash value than expected.

• A collision occurs when a hash function is unable to process an input.

• A collision is when two identical inputs generate different hash values.

How can hash functions be used in digital signatures?

• Hash functions are used to create a unique hash of the message, which is then signed with a private key to form a digital signature.

• Digital signatures do not require any hashing process.

• Hash functions are used to encrypt the entire message before signing.

• Hash functions are only used for data compression in digital signatures.

What are the potential vulnerabilities in message encryption?

• Strong encryption algorithms

• Perfect key management

• No implementation flaws

• Potential vulnerabilities in message encryption include key management issues, weak algorithms, implementation flaws, side-channel attacks, and social engineering.