Question 1

Which type of cryptographic algorithm takes an input string of any length, and returns a string of any requested variable length?
A)Substitution
B)Block
C)Loop
D)Sponge

Accepted Answer

The type of cryptographic algorithm that takes an input string of any length, and returns a string of any requested variable length is called a sponge function. The Sponge construction is a generalization of the Davies-Meyer and Miyaguchi-Preneel constructions, and is commonly used in hash functions, including the SHA-3 standard.

Question 2

A Hardware Security Module (HSM) is essentially a chip on the motherboard of the computer that provides cryptographic services.

Accepted Answer

A Hardware Security Module (HSM) is a dedicated external device, not just a chip on the motherboard, designed to provide cryptographic services and secure key management.

Question 3

The asymmetric cryptography algorithm most commonly used is:
A)AES
B)RSA
C)Twofish
D)Blowfish

Accepted Answer

RSA is the most commonly used asymmetric cryptography algorithm and is widely accepted and implemented in various systems including web browsers and SSH. AES, Twofish, and Blowfish are all symmetric cryptography algorithms.

Question 4

A hash algorithm is designed to create a hash that represents the contents of a set of data that can later be decrypted.

Accepted Answer

A hash algorithm is designed to create a fixed-length string of characters (hash) that represents the contents of a set of data without revealing the actual data. The hash cannot be decrypted to obtain the original data.

Question 5

Select below the hashing algorithm that takes plaintext of any length and generates a digest 128 bits in length:
A)RSA
B)SHA1
C)MD5
D)MD2

Accepted Answer

The answer of Select below the hashing algorithm that takes...

Question 6

A block cipher works on a single character at a time, and is faster than a stream cipher.

Accepted Answer

A block cipher operates on blocks of fixed size, rather than on individual characters. Therefore, it is slower than a stream cipher, which operates on individual characters.

Question 7

What is the name of the open source asymmetric cryptography system that runs on Windows, UNIX, and Linux systems, and is compatible with PGP?
A)GPG
B)OGP
C)CGP
D)GPP

Accepted Answer

GPG (GNU Privacy Guard) is an open source asymmetric cryptography system that runs on Windows, UNIX, and Linux systems and is compatible with PGP. OGP and CGP are not commonly used or well-known cryptography systems, and GPP is not a valid option.

Question 8

After the DES cipher was broken and no longer considered secure, what encryption algorithm was made as its successor?
A)AES
B)Twofish
C)3DES
D)RSA

Accepted Answer

The answer of After the DES cipher was broken and...

Question 9

Cryptography that attempts to use the microscopic behaviors of objects to develop and share keys while also detecting eavesdropping is known as what type of cryptography?
A)Reactive cryptography
B)Symmetric cryptography
C)Analog cryptography
D)Quantum cryptography

Accepted Answer

Quantum cryptography uses the principles of quantum mechanics to develop and share keys that are resistant to interception and eavesdropping. It relies on the behavior of particles at the subatomic level to ensure the security of the keys, making it much more secure than traditional symmetric cryptography.

Question 10

In cryptography, which of the five basic protections ensures that the information is correct and no unauthorized person or malicious software has altered that data?
A)Confidentiality
B)Availability
C)Encryption
D)Integrity

Accepted Answer

The protection that ensures the information is correct and has not been tampered with is integrity. Confidentiality ensures that the information is kept private, availability ensures that the information is accessible when needed, and encryption is a method for protecting the confidentiality of the information.

Question 11

Which of the following is not one of the functions of a digital signature?
A)Verification of the sender
B)Prevention of the sender from disowning the message
C)Prove the integrity of the message
D)Protect the public key

Accepted Answer

Protecting the public key is not one of the functions of a digital signature. The functions of a digital signature include verifying the sender, preventing the sender from disowning the message, and proving the integrity of the message, ensuring that it has not been altered.

Question 12

Steganography hides the existence of data within images by dividing and hiding portions of a file within the image.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Steganography is a technique used to hide data within images by dividing and embedding parts of a file within the image. This allows the data to remain hidden and undetected in plain sight.

Question 13

What is the block cipher algorithm that operates on 64-bit blocks and can have a key length from 32 to 448 bits known as?
A)RSA
B)AES
C)Blowfish
D)3DES

Accepted Answer

The block cipher algorithm that operates on 64-bit blocks and can have a key length from 32 to 448 bits is known as Blowfish. Both AES and 3DES operate on 64-bit blocks, but they have fixed key lengths (128 and 168 bits for AES, and 56 or 112 bits for 3DES). RSA is not a block cipher algorithm, but rather a public-key encryption algorithm. Therefore, the best choice is C, Blowfish.

Question 14

Self-encrypting HDD is commonly found in copiers and multifunction printers as well as point-of-sale systems used in government, financial, and medical environments.

Accepted Answer

Self-encrypting HDD is commonly found in copiers and multifunction printers as well as point-of-sale systems used in government, financial, and medical environments.

Question 15

The simplest type of stream cipher, one in which one letter or character is exchanged for another, is known as what?
A)shift
B)substitution
C)lock
D)loop

Accepted Answer

The simplest type of stream cipher where one letter or character is exchanged for another is known as a substitution cipher.

Question 16

What cryptographic method, first proposed in the mid-1980s, makes use of sloping curves instead of large prime numbers?
A)FCC
B)RSA
C)ECC
D)IKE

Accepted Answer

The cryptographic method that makes use of sloping curves instead of large prime numbers is called elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). It was first proposed in the mid-1980s and has gained popularity due to its efficiency and ability to provide the same level of security as RSA with smaller key sizes. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is a regulatory agency in the United States that oversees communication-related issues. RSA is a widely used public-key cryptosystem that makes use of large prime numbers. IKE (Internet Key Exchange) is a protocol used for setting up a secure connection between two parties.

Question 17

Data that is in an unencrypted form is referred to as which of the following?
A)Plaintext
B)Plain text
C)Simpletext
D)Cleartext

Accepted Answer

Unencrypted data is referred to as cleartext, as it is not hidden or obscured in any way and can be read by anyone who has access to it. Choices A and B are the same term with slightly different formatting, and choice C is not a commonly used term in the context of encryption.

Question 18

What type of cryptography uses two keys instead of just one, generating both a private and a public key?
A)Symmetric
B)Asymmetric
C)Shared
D)Open

Accepted Answer

Asymmetric cryptography, also known as public-key cryptography, uses two keys - a public key and a private key - to encrypt and decrypt data. The public key can be freely distributed to anyone, while the private key is kept secret. This approach provides stronger security compared to symmetric cryptography, which uses a single key for both encryption and decryption.

Question 19

What is the name of the cryptographic hash function that has international recognition and has been adopted by standards organizations such as the ISO, that creates a digest of 512 bits and will not be subject to patents?
A)Twofish
B)Blowfish
C)Whirlpool
D)Rijndal

Accepted Answer

The cryptographic hash function that meets all the given criteria is Whirlpool, which creates a digest of 512 bits, is recognized internationally, has been adopted by standards organizations such as the ISO, and is not subject to patents. Twofish and Blowfish are symmetric key block ciphers, while Rijndael (AES) is a symmetric key encryption standard.

Question 20

If using the MD5 hashing algorithm, what is the length to which each message is padded?
A)32 bits
B)64 bits
C)128 bits
D)512 bits

Accepted Answer

MD5 algorithm pads the message to ensure its length in bits is congruent to 448, modulo 512. This padding brings the total length to a multiple of 512 bits, but the specific padding length can vary depending on the original message length. The choice refers to the block size to which the message is extended, not the length of the padding itself.

Quiz 5: Basic Cryptography

Which type of cryptographic algorithm takes an input string of any length, and returns a string of any requested variable length?

A Hardware Security Module (HSM) is essentially a chip on the motherboard of the computer that provides cryptographic services.

The asymmetric cryptography algorithm most commonly used is:

A hash algorithm is designed to create a hash that represents the contents of a set of data that can later be decrypted.

Select below the hashing algorithm that takes plaintext of any length and generates a digest 128 bits in length:

A block cipher works on a single character at a time, and is faster than a stream cipher.

What is the name of the open source asymmetric cryptography system that runs on Windows, UNIX, and Linux systems, and is compatible with PGP?

After the DES cipher was broken and no longer considered secure, what encryption algorithm was made as its successor?

Cryptography that attempts to use the microscopic behaviors of objects to develop and share keys while also detecting eavesdropping is known as what type of cryptography?

In cryptography, which of the five basic protections ensures that the information is correct and no unauthorized person or malicious software has altered that data?

Which of the following is not one of the functions of a digital signature?

Steganography hides the existence of data within images by dividing and hiding portions of a file within the image.

What is the block cipher algorithm that operates on 64-bit blocks and can have a key length from 32 to 448 bits known as?

Self-encrypting HDD is commonly found in copiers and multifunction printers as well as point-of-sale systems used in government, financial, and medical environments.

The simplest type of stream cipher, one in which one letter or character is exchanged for another, is known as what?

What cryptographic method, first proposed in the mid-1980s, makes use of sloping curves instead of large prime numbers?

Data that is in an unencrypted form is referred to as which of the following?

What type of cryptography uses two keys instead of just one, generating both a private and a public key?

What is the name of the cryptographic hash function that has international recognition and has been adopted by standards organizations such as the ISO, that creates a digest of 512 bits and will not be subject to patents?

If using the MD5 hashing algorithm, what is the length to which each message is padded?