CompTIA Security+ (SY0-501) — Question 560

A computer forensics analyst collected a flash drive that contained a single file with 500 pages of text. Which of the following algorithms should the analyst use to validate the integrity of the file?

Answer options

• A. 3DES
• B. AES
• C. MD5
• D. RSA

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct choice is MD5, as it is a hashing algorithm specifically designed to validate data integrity by producing a unique hash value for the file. In contrast, 3DES and AES are encryption algorithms used for securing data, while RSA is a public-key cryptosystem primarily for secure data transmission, not for integrity checking.