Final answer:
Mutual authentication is the term used whenever two or more parties authenticate each other. This process ensures that only authorized parties can access the system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mutual authentication is the term used whenever two or more parties authenticate each other. It is a security mechanism in which both the client and the server verify each other's identities before establishing a connection. This helps ensure that only authorized parties can access the system.
For example, in online banking, when a user logs in, the server authenticates the user by requesting a password, and the user authenticates the server by verifying its digital certificate. This mutual authentication process adds an extra layer of security to the communication.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. Mutual authentication.
Mutual authentication is when two sides of a communications channel verify each other's identity, instead of only one side verifying the other. Mutual authentication is also known as "two-way authentication" because the process goes in both directions.