Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

What is the primary characteristic of RSA encryption?

1. It uses a single key

2. It is a symmetric encryption method

3. It employs a public and a private key

4. It is considered obsolete

The correct answer is: It employs a public and a private key

The primary characteristic of RSA encryption is that it employs a public and a private key. RSA, which stands for Rivest-Shamir-Adleman—its creators—uses asymmetric encryption, meaning that it involves two distinct keys. The public key is used for encrypting data, and it can be shared openly. Conversely, the private key is kept secret and is used for decrypting the data that has been encrypted with the corresponding public key. This system allows secure communication over insecure channels, as only the holder of the private key can decrypt messages intended for them. In contrast, the other options reference different types of encryption. A key characteristic of RSA is, in fact, the use of two keys rather than a single key for both encryption and decryption, which is what symmetric encryption does. Additionally, saying RSA is obsolete does not reflect a current understanding of its continued relevance in secure data transmission, despite there being newer technologies emerging. Therefore, the ability of RSA to use both a public and a private key is what fundamentally defines its encryption method.