WGU D334 – Introduction to
Cryptography Final Prep Exam (Latest
Update 2026/2027) Questions and
Verified Answers | 100% Correct |
Grade A.
1. What is the primary goal of cryptography?
A. Increasing network bandwidth
B. Compressing data files
C. Protecting information through confidentiality, integrity,
authentication, and nonrepudiation
D. Eliminating all cybersecurity threats
Rationale: Cryptography is the practice of securing information by
transforming data so that unauthorized users cannot access or alter it.
Its primary goals include confidentiality, integrity, authentication, and
nonrepudiation.
2. Which cryptographic principle ensures that data has not been
altered without authorization?
A. Confidentiality
B. Availability
,C. Integrity
D. Authentication
Rationale: Integrity ensures that information remains accurate and
unchanged from its original state. Hash functions and digital signatures
are commonly used to verify integrity.
3. Which type of cryptography uses the same key for both encryption
and decryption?
A. Asymmetric cryptography
B. Public key infrastructure
C. Digital signature cryptography
D. Symmetric cryptography
Rationale: Symmetric cryptography uses a single shared secret key to
encrypt and decrypt information. Both parties must securely possess the
same key.
4. Which algorithm is an example of a symmetric encryption
algorithm?
A. RSA
B. ECC
C. Diffie-Hellman
D. AES
Rationale: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a widely used
symmetric encryption algorithm. RSA and ECC are asymmetric
algorithms, while Diffie-Hellman is primarily used for key exchange.
,5. What is a major disadvantage of symmetric encryption?
A. It cannot encrypt large amounts of data
B. It requires extremely large keys
C. Securely distributing the shared key can be challenging
D. It cannot provide confidentiality
Rationale: Symmetric encryption is efficient but requires both parties to
have the same secret key. Safely exchanging that key is a major
challenge, especially in large environments.
6. Which cryptographic method uses a public key and a private key?
A. Hashing
B. Symmetric encryption
C. Asymmetric encryption
D. Steganography
Rationale: Asymmetric encryption uses a key pair consisting of a publicly
available key and a private key that must remain secret.
7. In asymmetric cryptography, what key is used to encrypt a message
intended for a recipient?
A. Sender’s private key
B. Sender’s public key
C. Recipient’s private key
D. Recipient’s public key
, Rationale: A sender encrypts data using the recipient’s public key. Only
the recipient’s private key can decrypt the message.
8. Which algorithm is commonly associated with asymmetric
encryption?
A. AES
B. DES
C. RSA
D. SHA-256
Rationale: RSA is one of the most widely recognized asymmetric
encryption algorithms. AES and DES are symmetric algorithms, while
SHA-256 is a hashing algorithm.
9. What is the primary purpose of a cryptographic hash function?
A. Encrypt sensitive files
B. Exchange encryption keys
C. Create a fixed-length representation of data for verification
D. Hide data inside images
Rationale: Hash functions create a unique fixed-length digest from input
data. They are commonly used for integrity verification and password
storage.
10. Which property should a secure cryptographic hash function
provide?
Cryptography Final Prep Exam (Latest
Update 2026/2027) Questions and
Verified Answers | 100% Correct |
Grade A.
1. What is the primary goal of cryptography?
A. Increasing network bandwidth
B. Compressing data files
C. Protecting information through confidentiality, integrity,
authentication, and nonrepudiation
D. Eliminating all cybersecurity threats
Rationale: Cryptography is the practice of securing information by
transforming data so that unauthorized users cannot access or alter it.
Its primary goals include confidentiality, integrity, authentication, and
nonrepudiation.
2. Which cryptographic principle ensures that data has not been
altered without authorization?
A. Confidentiality
B. Availability
,C. Integrity
D. Authentication
Rationale: Integrity ensures that information remains accurate and
unchanged from its original state. Hash functions and digital signatures
are commonly used to verify integrity.
3. Which type of cryptography uses the same key for both encryption
and decryption?
A. Asymmetric cryptography
B. Public key infrastructure
C. Digital signature cryptography
D. Symmetric cryptography
Rationale: Symmetric cryptography uses a single shared secret key to
encrypt and decrypt information. Both parties must securely possess the
same key.
4. Which algorithm is an example of a symmetric encryption
algorithm?
A. RSA
B. ECC
C. Diffie-Hellman
D. AES
Rationale: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a widely used
symmetric encryption algorithm. RSA and ECC are asymmetric
algorithms, while Diffie-Hellman is primarily used for key exchange.
,5. What is a major disadvantage of symmetric encryption?
A. It cannot encrypt large amounts of data
B. It requires extremely large keys
C. Securely distributing the shared key can be challenging
D. It cannot provide confidentiality
Rationale: Symmetric encryption is efficient but requires both parties to
have the same secret key. Safely exchanging that key is a major
challenge, especially in large environments.
6. Which cryptographic method uses a public key and a private key?
A. Hashing
B. Symmetric encryption
C. Asymmetric encryption
D. Steganography
Rationale: Asymmetric encryption uses a key pair consisting of a publicly
available key and a private key that must remain secret.
7. In asymmetric cryptography, what key is used to encrypt a message
intended for a recipient?
A. Sender’s private key
B. Sender’s public key
C. Recipient’s private key
D. Recipient’s public key
, Rationale: A sender encrypts data using the recipient’s public key. Only
the recipient’s private key can decrypt the message.
8. Which algorithm is commonly associated with asymmetric
encryption?
A. AES
B. DES
C. RSA
D. SHA-256
Rationale: RSA is one of the most widely recognized asymmetric
encryption algorithms. AES and DES are symmetric algorithms, while
SHA-256 is a hashing algorithm.
9. What is the primary purpose of a cryptographic hash function?
A. Encrypt sensitive files
B. Exchange encryption keys
C. Create a fixed-length representation of data for verification
D. Hide data inside images
Rationale: Hash functions create a unique fixed-length digest from input
data. They are commonly used for integrity verification and password
storage.
10. Which property should a secure cryptographic hash function
provide?
