Protecting stored data

Question 1

Why is it important to protect stored data?

Answer 1

To prevent it from being obtained by hackers and others
Even if the application or database is compromised

Question 2

What is encryption?

Answer 2

A common security technique that uses an algorithm to scramble, or encrypt, data and then uses a key for the receiving party to unscramble, or decrypt, the data

Question 3

Plaintext

Answer 3

Data in its readable form

Question 4

Ciphertext

Answer 4

Data in its encrypted, unreadable form.

Question 5

Encryption vs hashing

Answer 5

Hashing of passwords is a one way function - can convert plaintext to ciphertext but not back again
Encryption is a two-way function(convert plaintext to ciphertext and back again

Question 6

Cryptography

Answer 6

Study of securing data from outside observers

Question 7

Encryption

Answer 7

Act of scrambling readable data into unreadable ciphertext

Question 8

Decryption

Answer 8

Act of scrambling unreadable ciphertext into readable data

Question 9

Algorithm

Answer 9

Set of steps that the encryption and decryption process follows - there are many types.
A specific one is called the Cipher

Question 10

Key

Answer 10

A random string of bits created specifically for encrypting and/or decrypting data
Each key is unique and created via an algorithm to make sure it’s unpredictable
Generated with random number generators
Modern systems generate a fresh key for every session, to add another layer of security
Longer keys are harder to crack

Question 11

What is the key length for symmetric-key algorithms

Answer 11

128 bits

Question 12

What is the key length for asymmetric-key algorithms

Answer 12

2048 bits

Question 13

Symmetric key encryption(private)

Answer 13

Encryption and decryption uses the same key
The key must be kept secret