Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

Which of the following terms describes a method for making readable data unreadable?

1. Decryption

2. Encryption

3. Data compression

4. Data mining

The correct answer is: Encryption

Encryption is a crucial process in cybersecurity that transforms readable data, known as plaintext, into an unreadable format called ciphertext. This conversion is achieved through specific algorithms and keys that ensure only individuals with the correct decryption key can revert the ciphertext back to its original, readable state. This method helps protect sensitive information, making it inaccessible to unauthorized users, thus maintaining confidentiality and integrity. In the context of data security, encryption is widely employed to safeguard information transmitted over networks or stored on devices, especially in scenarios involving personal data, financial transactions, or classified information. The other options, such as decryption, data compression, and data mining, serve very different purposes and do not fulfill the role of transforming readable data into an unreadable format. Decryption, for instance, is the process of converting encrypted data back to its original form, while data compression reduces the size of data for easier storage or transmission, and data mining involves analyzing large datasets to extract meaningful patterns or insights.