Passwords

Question 1

What is hashing?

Answer 1

Hashing is the transformation of a string of characters into a value that represents the original string.

Question 2

What is a Salt and why do we need it?

Answer 2

A salt is a unique, randomly generated string that is added to each password as part of the hashing process. Hashing the same String outputs the same hash value, and a salt makes cracking large numbers of hashes significantly harder. It is also not possible to determine whether two users have the same password when using a salt.

Question 3

What is an algorithm? [In reference of encryption]

Answer 3

The set of steps that the encryption and decryption process follows. It is also called a Cipher.

Question 4

What is a key?

Answer 4

A random string of bits created specifically for encrypting and/or decrypting data. Common key lengths are 128 bits for symmetric-key algr. and 2048 bits for asymmetric-key algr..

Question 5

What is a symmetric-key encryption?

Answer 5

A.k.a. private-key encryption.
When using SKE:
- Encryption and decryption uses the same
key.
- The key must be kept secret.