SSCP Cryptography Practice Question
An organization is implementing a digital signature solution to ensure non-repudiation and integrity of documents. Which three of the following are true regarding digital signatures?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The receiver verifies the signature using the sender's public key.
Digital signatures involve signing the hash of the message with the sender's private key. They provide non-repudiation because only the sender has the private key. Verification uses the sender's public key.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The receiver uses the sender's private key to verify the signature.
Why it's wrong here
The private key is never shared; verification always uses the public key.
- ✓
The receiver verifies the signature using the sender's public key.
Why this is correct
Verification involves decrypting the signature with the sender's public key and comparing the hash.
- ✗
The sender encrypts the entire document with their public key to create a signature.
Why it's wrong here
Encrypting the entire document with the public key would not produce a signature; signatures involve the hash and private key.
- ✓
Digital signatures provide non-repudiation because the private key is kept secret by the sender.
Why this is correct
Since only the sender possesses the private key, they cannot deny having signed the document.
- ✓
The sender signs the message hash with their private key.
Why this is correct
Signing the hash (not the entire message) is efficient and standard; the hash is encrypted with the private key.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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