GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies Practice Test

Which form of encryption does HTTPS utilize?

1. Asymmetric

2. Symmetric

3. Both

4. None

The correct answer is: Both

HTTPS utilizes both asymmetric and symmetric encryption to secure data transmitted over the internet. When a user connects to a website using HTTPS, the initial step involves asymmetric encryption during the SSL/TLS handshake process. This is where the server sends its public key to the client, allowing the client to verify the server's identity and establish a secure connection. The client then generates a session key, which is sent back to the server encrypted with the server’s public key. This process ensures that the private key remains confidential and only the server can decrypt the session key. Once the session key has been securely exchanged, HTTPS uses symmetric encryption for the duration of the session. Symmetric encryption is faster and is ideal for encrypting the actual session data because both the client and server use the same session key to encrypt and decrypt messages. This dual approach leverages the strengths of both encryption methods: the security of asymmetric encryption for secure key exchange and the speed of symmetric encryption for data transfer, thereby ensuring a secure and efficient communication channel.