Question

In an asymmetric cryptosystem, the key primarily used for encrypting for the sake of confidentiality is __________

A). Public key
B). Private key
C). Symmetric key
D). Lateral key

Answer 1

In an asymmetric cryptosystem, confidentiality is maintained using the public key to encrypt messages, which can only be decrypted with the recipient's private key.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an asymmetric cryptosystem, the key primarily used for encrypting messages to maintain confidentiality is the public key. To ensure secure communication, a sender will encrypt their message using the recipient's public key, which can only be decrypted by the corresponding private key held securely by the recipient. This ensures that even if the encrypted message is intercepted, only the intended recipient can read the content. Whereas, the private key is typically used for decryption or for creating digital signatures that verify the sender's identity.