What is the function of a hashing protocol?

The correct answer is D. provides data integrity. Hashing protocols (like MD5, SHA-256) generate a fixed-size digest from input data - if even one bit changes, the hash changes entirely - making them the standard tool for verifying data integrity (D). Option A describes encryption with encapsulation, which is the role of…

Cybersecurity Fundamentals

Question

What is the function of a hashing protocol?

Options

Aencrypts data with encapsulation
Bestablishes an unencrypted tunnel
Cestablishes a secure tunnel
Dprovides data integrity

How the community answered

(38 responses)

A
3% (1)
B
3% (1)
D
95% (36)

Explanation

Hashing protocols (like MD5, SHA-256) generate a fixed-size digest from input data - if even one bit changes, the hash changes entirely - making them the standard tool for verifying data integrity (D). Option A describes encryption with encapsulation, which is the role of protocols like IPsec or TLS, not hashing. Option B (unencrypted tunnel) describes something like GRE, and option C (secure tunnel) describes protocols like SSL/TLS or SSH - both are tunnel-establishment mechanisms that hashing alone cannot provide.

Memory tip: Think of a hash as a fingerprint - it identifies whether data has been tampered with, but it doesn't hide or transport anything. Anything about hiding or tunneling → not hashing.

Topics

#Hash functions#Data integrity#Cryptography

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