Question

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding asymmetric encryption?

1. Everyone generally has access to the public key and can use it at any time to validate or reverse operations performed by the private key.
2. Any key that has its access restricted to a small number or only one individual becomes a private key because not everyone can use it.
3. Anyone who has access to the public key can encrypt data, but only the holder of the corresponding private key can decrypt it.
4. If the holder of the private key encrypts something with the private key, only other individuals with access to the private key can decrypt.

Answer 1

Statement 4 is incorrect for asymmetric encryption since anything encrypted with a private key can indeed be decrypted by others using the corresponding public key, not just by those with access to the private key.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that is NOT true regarding asymmetric encryption is number 4: "If the holder of the private key encrypts something with the private key, only other individuals with access to the private key can decrypt." In reality, anything encrypted with a private key can be decrypted by anyone with the corresponding public key. This process is often used in digital signatures, where a private key is used to sign data, and the corresponding public key is used to verify the signature.

Asymmetric encryption works based on a pair of keys: a private key and a public key. The public key is distributed openly and can be used to encrypt data or validate data signed with the corresponding private key. Conversely, the private key is kept secret and can be used to decrypt data encrypted with the public key or to sign data, making sure that it can be verified with the public key.

Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 describe true aspects of asymmetric encryption: the public key's accessibility (1), the private key being restricted (2), and the encryption and decryption capabilities (3).