Encryption and Factors

What is encryption?

The scrambling of data, using an encryption algorithm so it can no longer be understood

What is plaintext?

The original data to be encrypted

What is ciphertext?

The encrypted data

What is a key?

A sequence of numbers used to encrypt or decrypt, normally using a mathematical formula

What is an encryption algorithm?

The formula for encrypting the plaintext and generating the keys

What are the two types of encryption techniques?

Symmetric and asymmetric encryption

What is private key encryption?

A single key is used to encrypt and decrypt data and must be given to the recipient to decrypt the data

What is public key encryption?

Two keys are used, one public key to encrypt and the other private key to decrypt data

Is public or private key more secure and why?

It means you never have to send or reveal your decryption/private key

Why is WiFi vulnerable to eavesdroppers?

The signal can be listened to from a distance

What are the most common wireless security standards?

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (WiFi Protected Access)

Why should the WEP method of encryption no longer be used?

WEP is older and can be cracked in seconds

Why should HTTPS be used for websites?

It encrypts data sent to and received from the site

What factors affect a networks performance?

Bandwidth, number of devices, latency, errors in transmission, interference, distance, security

What is bandwidth?

The amount of data you can send/receive per second

How does bandwidth affect network performance?

The larger the bandwidth, the more data that can be shared/transmitted per second, so better network performance

What does increased network traffic do?

It cause congestion and bandwidth is shared between more devices, lowering the amount available per device

How does the number of devices affect network performance?

The more devices on a network, the more traffic so it slows down data transmission

What is latency?

The time it takes to get a response from another networked device

How does latency affect network performance?

The longer the latency, due to data packets errors, the worse the network performance