INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGRAPHY
STUDY GUIDE 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● What is the primary focus of cryptography? Answer: The art of writing
or solving codes and communication over untrusted channels.
● What is the Greek origin of the word 'cryptography'? Answer: It
derives from the Greek word for 'secret writing'.
● What are the basic security services provided by cryptographic
systems? Answer: Confidentiality, data integrity, data origin
authentication, and non-repudiation.
● Define confidentiality in the context of security services. Answer:
Data cannot be viewed by unauthorized entities.
● What does data integrity ensure? Answer: Data cannot be altered in an
unauthorized manner.
● What is data origin authentication? Answer: The identity of the entity
that created the data can be verified.
, ● What does non-repudiation mean? Answer: An entity cannot deny a
previous action.
● What is accountability in security services? Answer: An individual is
answerable to proper authority for safeguarding and controlling
information.
● What does anonymity refer to in security services? Answer: A person's
identity is not revealed or is intentionally concealed.
● What is verifiability in the context of security? Answer: The ability to
provide objective evidence that specific security requirements have been
met.
● What is Kerckhoff's principle? Answer: A cryptographic system
should be secure even if everything about the system, except for the key,
is public knowledge.
● What are passive attacks? Answer: Attacks where the attacker does not
change any data or processes, such as unauthorized access to data.
● What is an example of an active attack? Answer: Masquerade, where a
malicious actor impersonates a legitimate user.
STUDY GUIDE 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● What is the primary focus of cryptography? Answer: The art of writing
or solving codes and communication over untrusted channels.
● What is the Greek origin of the word 'cryptography'? Answer: It
derives from the Greek word for 'secret writing'.
● What are the basic security services provided by cryptographic
systems? Answer: Confidentiality, data integrity, data origin
authentication, and non-repudiation.
● Define confidentiality in the context of security services. Answer:
Data cannot be viewed by unauthorized entities.
● What does data integrity ensure? Answer: Data cannot be altered in an
unauthorized manner.
● What is data origin authentication? Answer: The identity of the entity
that created the data can be verified.
, ● What does non-repudiation mean? Answer: An entity cannot deny a
previous action.
● What is accountability in security services? Answer: An individual is
answerable to proper authority for safeguarding and controlling
information.
● What does anonymity refer to in security services? Answer: A person's
identity is not revealed or is intentionally concealed.
● What is verifiability in the context of security? Answer: The ability to
provide objective evidence that specific security requirements have been
met.
● What is Kerckhoff's principle? Answer: A cryptographic system
should be secure even if everything about the system, except for the key,
is public knowledge.
● What are passive attacks? Answer: Attacks where the attacker does not
change any data or processes, such as unauthorized access to data.
● What is an example of an active attack? Answer: Masquerade, where a
malicious actor impersonates a legitimate user.
