Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

Which encryption technique is classified as a symmetric cipher?

1. RSA

2. Triple DES

3. One-Time Pad

4. Public Key Infrastructure

The correct answer is: Triple DES

The choice of Triple DES as the correct answer reflects its classification as a symmetric cipher, meaning it uses the same key for both the encryption and decryption processes. This type of encryption relies on the secrecy of the key, and both parties involved need to possess and protect the same key to securely communicate. Triple DES, which stands for Triple Data Encryption Standard, enhances the original DES by applying the encryption process three times to each data block. This adds strength to the encryption, making it more resilient against brute-force attacks compared to its predecessor. In contrast, RSA, which is an option, is an asymmetric encryption technique that uses two different keys—one public and one private. The public key encrypts data, while the private key decrypts it, creating a different security model than symmetric encryption. The One-Time Pad is another type of symmetric cipher, but it is unique because it uses a completely random key that is as long as the message itself, which is impractical for many applications. Meanwhile, Public Key Infrastructure is not an encryption technique but rather a system for managing digital keys and certificates, enabling secure communication and user identity verification in networks. By understanding that Triple DES utilizes a consistent key for both encryption and decryption, one can better appreciate