Which of the following describes the difference between encryption and hashing?

Question

Options

• AEncryption protects data in transit, while hashing protects data at rest.
• BEncryption replaces cleartext with ciphertext, while hashing calculates a checksum.
• CEncryption ensures data integrity, while hashing ensures data confidentiality.
• DEncryption uses a public-key exchange, while hashing uses a private key.

• A
  4% (2)
• B
  89% (48)
• C
  6% (3)
• D
  2% (1)

Explanation

B is correct because it accurately captures the fundamental distinction: encryption is a reversible transformation that converts plaintext into ciphertext (and back) using a key, while hashing is a one-way function that produces a fixed-length digest (checksum) with no way to reverse it.

Why the distractors fail:

• A is wrong because both encryption and hashing can apply to data in transit or at rest - the location of data doesn't define these concepts.
• C reverses the roles: hashing ensures integrity (detecting tampering via checksums), while encryption ensures confidentiality (hiding content).
• D is wrong because encryption methods vary widely - symmetric encryption uses shared private keys, and asymmetric uses key pairs - while hashing uses no key at all.

Memory tip: Think of encryption as a locked box (you need the key to open it) and hashing as a fingerprint (unique identifier, but you can't reconstruct the person from it). If it's reversible, it's encryption; if it's one-way, it's a hash.

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