Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Fundamentals (SECFND, legacy) — Question 11

Which of the following statements are true about public and private key pairs?

Answer options

• A. A key pair is a set of two keys that work in combination with each other as a team.
• B. A key pair is a set of two keys that work in isolation.
• C. If you use the public key to encrypt data using an asymmetric encryption algorithm, the corresponding private key is used to decrypt the data.
• D. If you use the public key to encrypt data using an asymmetric encryption algorithm, the peer decrypts the data with that public key.

Correct answer: C

Explanation

Option C is correct because, in asymmetric encryption, data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted using the corresponding private key. Option A is incorrect because while the keys work together, they do not function as a team in the conventional sense. Option B is false since the keys are designed to work in tandem for the encryption and decryption process. Option D is incorrect as the private key, not the public key, is used for decryption.