CIPT (Certified Information Privacy Technologist) Practice

What is the primary purpose of Symmetric Encryption?

1. To allow distribution of public keys

2. To ensure data can only be decrypted by a specific private key

3. To use different keys for encryption and decryption

4. To use the same key for encryption and decryption

The correct answer is: To use the same key for encryption and decryption

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. This is useful for maintaining the secrecy and confidentiality of messages, as both parties communicating can use the same key without having to share it with others. The primary goal of symmetric encryption is to provide a secure and efficient means of communication by using a single key for encryption and decryption instead of having to manage and distribute multiple keys. Option A is incorrect because it refers to public key distribution, which is a feature of asymmetric encryption. Option B is incorrect because it refers to a specific private key, but symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. Option C is incorrect because it suggests using different keys for encryption and decryption, which goes against the definition of symmetric encryption. Therefore, the most appropriate choice for the primary purpose of symmetric encryption is D, using the same key for encryption and decryption.