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Difficulty: EasyCryptographic Concepts and Algorithms

A security technician needs to verify that a downloaded software installation package has not been modified or corrupted during transit. Which of the following cryptographic mechanisms should the technician use to check the file's integrity?

  1. Cryptographic hash functionAnswer
  2. B
    Symmetric block cipher
  3. C
    Certificate signing request
  4. D
    Asymmetric key exchange protocol

Answer

Cryptographic hash function
A cryptographic hash function converts arbitrary input data into a unique, fixed-length string (digest). By calculating the hash of the downloaded package and comparing it to the published hash value, the technician can verify whether the file was altered or corrupted during transit.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary security requirement
The scenario requires verifying that a file has not been altered or corrupted in transit (ensuring data integrity).
Data integrity controls ensure that data remains authentic and unmodified.
2
Match the requirement to the correct cryptographic concept
Cryptographic hash functions (such as SHA-256) produce a unique fixed-length output digest for a given input file.
Any modification to the source file results in a drastically different hash digest, allowing simple verification.

Key Concept

Cryptographic Hash Functions and Data Integrity
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Topics

Cryptographic Concepts and Algorithms

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