What type of encryption uses a different key to encrypt the message than it uses to decrypt the message?

• A. Symmetric
• B. Asymmetric
• C. Hashing
• D. Public-key cryptography

Answer: (B)

Asymmetric encryption is defined by using two different keys for the process: one key encrypts the data and a separate key decrypts it. This stands in contrast to symmetric encryption, where the same key is used to both lock and unlock the message. Hashing is a distinct concept entirely—it's a one-way function that produces a fixed digest and isn’t used to recover the original message. Public-key cryptography is the practical way to implement asymmetric encryption, typically involving a publicly shared key for encryption and a private key for decryption. The essential idea here is that different keys are used for encryption and decryption, which is what asymmetric encryption describes.