Question 1

A(n)asymmetric encryption algorithm requires the use of a secret key known to both the sender and receiver. _________________________

Accepted Answer

Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys (public and private) where the public key is used for encryption and the private key is used for decryption, not requiring both parties to share a secret key.

Question 2

When a user attempts to log on to the machine, a hash function reads the user ID and checks that the password matches the password for that user in the password file.

Accepted Answer

A hash function does not read the user ID to check if the password matches. Instead, the system uses the user ID to locate the stored hash of the user's password in the password file, then compares this stored hash with the hash of the entered password.

Question 3

The term ____________________ comes about because perpetrators cast out bait, in the form of email messages, to thousands of potential victims in the hope that one or two will "bite" and fall for the scam.

Accepted Answer

phishing

Question 4

The success of RSA encryption depends on the fact that it is extremely difficult to find the prime factors for n if n is a large number.

Accepted Answer

RSA encryption's security is based on the mathematical difficulty of factoring large integers, which is the product of two large prime numbers.

Question 5

A block cipher encodes one character at a time.

Accepted Answer

A block cipher encrypts data in fixed-size blocks (e.g., 128 or 256 bits) rather than one character at a time, which is a characteristic of stream ciphers.

Question 6

To reduce the chance that two passwords will have the same hash value, a timestamp can be appended to a password, and the result is then run through the encryption algorithm and stored as the encrypted password in the password file.

Accepted Answer

Appending a timestamp to a password before hashing it makes it less likely that two passwords will have the same hash value because the timestamp is unique for each password.

Question 7

In an asymmetric encryption algorithm, also called a public key encryption algorithm, the key for encryption and the key for decryption are quite different, although related.

Accepted Answer

In asymmetric encryption, the encryption key (public key) and the decryption key (private key) are different but mathematically related, allowing secure communication where only the holder of the private key can decrypt messages encrypted with the public key.

Question 8

DES is a block cipher and the blocks are 48 bits long. _________________________

Accepted Answer

DES is a block cipher, but the blocks are 64 bits long, not 48 bits.

Question 9

The main difficulty with a symmetric algorithm is how to securely transmit the secret key.

Accepted Answer

In symmetric cryptography, both parties use the same secret key for encryption and decryption, making the secure transmission or exchange of this key a critical challenge to ensure confidentiality.

Question 10

Sometimes the word hacker is used to denote a person who breaks into someone else's computer.

Accepted Answer

The term "hacker" is often used to describe someone who gains unauthorized access to computer systems, typically for malicious purposes.

Question 11

_______ is the hide in plain sight encryption when a text file is hidden in an image file by changing (if needed)the least significant bit of each byte of the image file to match the binary form of the characters in the text.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _______ is the hide in plain sight...

Question 12

____________________ is the science of "secret writing."

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ is the science of "secret writing."...

Question 13

In the early days of computing, when large mainframes were the only option, physical security was enforced by securing the rooms housing these machines. _________________________

Accepted Answer

In the early days of computing, large mainframes were indeed the primary form of computing power, and physical security measures such as securing the rooms where these machines were housed were crucial to protect the valuable and sensitive data they processed.

Question 14

Any positive ____________________ is either a prime number or a number that can be written in a unique way as a product of prime factors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Any positive ____________________ is either a prime...

Question 15

The operating system encrypts the password for a given user by encoding the information, using a process that is easy to apply but difficult to undo.

Accepted Answer

The operating system encrypts passwords using a one-way hashing process, which is designed to be computationally easy to perform but difficult to reverse, ensuring the security of the password.

Question 16

A Trojan horse embeds itself within another program or file, and when that program or file is activated, it copies itself and attacks other files on the system. _________________________

Accepted Answer

A Trojan horse does not replicate itself like a virus; it disguises itself as legitimate software to trick users into executing it, often leading to unauthorized access or damage.

Question 17

Firewall software guards the access points to your computer, blocking viruses from sites . _________________________

Accepted Answer

Firewall software primarily monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, but it does not specifically block viruses. Antivirus software is designed to detect and remove viruses.

Question 18

SSL protocols are the only security protocols that are supported by all web browsers.

Accepted Answer

Other security protocols like TLS (Transport Layer Security) are also widely supported by all modern web browsers, and TLS has largely replaced SSL for securing communications on the internet.

Question 19

In a(n)public-key system, the __________ for messages to go to a particular receiver is broadcast to everyone, but the decryption key cannot be derived from it and is known only by the receiver.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a(n)public-key system, the __________ for messages...

Question 20

Your best defense against someone guessing your password is to be smart about how you choose and use your password.

Accepted Answer

Choosing a strong, unique password and being cautious about how and where you use it significantly reduces the risk of it being guessed or compromised.

Quiz 8: Information Security