Question

In terms of encrypting data, which of the following terms provides the strongest way to safeguard password data by adding random data to it in storage? A. Mustarding B. Peppering C. Sugaring D. Saltin

Answer 1

The term for adding random data to password data in storage to increase security is 'salting', which prevents attacks using precomputed hash function reversal tables known as rainbow tables, and makes each password unique even if the actual passwords are the same.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of encrypting data, specifically regarding password protection, the term that describes the process of adding random data to password data in storage for strengthening security is salt or salting. When a password is created, a random value known as a salt is added before the password is hashed. The primary reason for this is to prevent the use of rainbow tables—precomputed tables for reversing cryptographic hash functions, which are effective against unsalted hashes. By salting passwords, each input becomes unique. Even if two users have the same password, their salts are likely to be different, resulting in different hashes. This drastically increases the complexity and time required to crack the password data using brute force methods or rainbow tables.