101 · Question #684
Cryptographic hash functions can be used to provide which service?
The correct answer is C. data validation. Cryptographic hash functions generate a fixed-length digest of data that can be used to verify that data has not been altered, providing data integrity validation.
Question
Cryptographic hash functions can be used to provide which service?
Options
- Adata modification
- Bdata encryption
- Cdata validation
- Ddata decryption
How the community answered
(27 responses)- B4% (1)
- C93% (25)
- D4% (1)
Why each option
Cryptographic hash functions generate a fixed-length digest of data that can be used to verify that data has not been altered, providing data integrity validation.
Hash functions are one-way and cannot modify or reconstruct data; they only produce a digest for comparison.
Encryption is a reversible process using keys; hash functions are one-way and do not encrypt data.
A hash function produces a deterministic, fixed-size digest from input data. By recomputing the hash and comparing it to the original, recipients can validate that data has not been modified in transit, which is the foundation of integrity checking in protocols like HMAC and digital signatures.
Decryption requires a key and a reversible cipher algorithm; hash functions are irreversible and cannot decrypt anything.
Concept tested: Cryptographic hash functions and data integrity
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/security/cryptographic-services
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