Question_2_Paper1_Dec_2010

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** Area of Impact: Education ** **1. ****New Think is a company dedicated to create IT solutions. Inside the company they have an IT environment for communication and management. It allows users to send messages. A team inside New Think has decided they should communicate about their new project only through encrypted messages. **

//(a) //Define the term //encryption//.

//(b) // Describe **two** advantages of sending and encrypted message using public-key encryption.

An advantage of sending messages encrypted using public key encryption is that if it happens that a third party intercepts the message they will not be able to read it because they will require using the key. Another advantage is that if someone gets access to your account where you receive your messages, they will still not be able to read them.

//(c)// Explain the security concerns of using a website for communication through messages even when using public-key encryption

A security concern of using a website for communication is the fact that if an account is logged into by someone who is not the owner, it is impossible to know right away. If this happens, access to encryption keys can be obtained. Another security concern is that if the key is ever lost, all the messages will probably be lost forever. A website is always open for side jacking, and to some degree hackable.

//(d)// Evaluate the use of encryption in messages inside New Think communication website