Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

What does Blowfish encryption do with messages before encrypting them?

1. Compresses them into smaller blocks

2. Encrypts them without modification

3. Splits them into 64-bit blocks

4. Changes the message format

The correct answer is: Splits them into 64-bit blocks

Blowfish encryption processes messages by splitting them into 64-bit blocks before the actual encryption occurs. This is a defining feature of Blowfish, allowing it to handle data in manageable sizes conducive for its encryption algorithm. Each block is then independently encrypted with the Blowfish cipher, which is designed to maintain security and efficiency. The division into 64-bit blocks is significant because it establishes a uniform structure that the algorithm can work with, ensuring that even larger messages are broken down and handled systematically. This also enables the same encryption mechanism to be applied consistently throughout the message. Other choices, while related to data processing or encryption, do not accurately describe Blowfish's approach. For instance, compressing or altering message formats is not part of Blowfish's core process, as its sole focus is on secure encryption while maintaining the integrity of the original data format.