Question

Which of the following types of encryption is used by the secure sockets layer protocol?

A) optical encryption
B) physical layer encryption
C) disk encryption
D) public key encryption

Answer 1

The secure sockets layer (SSL) protocol primarily employs public key encryption for securing data transmission. Option D, public key encryption, is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

SSL, now succeeded by Transport Layer Security (TLS), is a protocol used to ensure secure communication over a computer network. It relies on encryption to protect sensitive information during data exchange between a web browser and a server. Public key encryption, specifically asymmetric encryption, is a fundamental component of SSL/TLS. In this approach, a pair of keys—a public key and a private key—is used. The public key encrypts the data, and the private key decrypts it, ensuring secure communication by maintaining confidentiality and integrity.

Option D, public key encryption, is the correct answer.