- A
RSA-2048
Why wrong: RSA with 2048-bit keys is still considered secure.
- B
DES
DES uses a 56-bit key, making it vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
- C
3DES
3DES is deprecated due to performance issues and theoretical attacks.
- D
AES-256
Why wrong: AES-256 is a current standard and considered secure.
- E
MD5
MD5 is vulnerable to collision attacks and is broken.
Question 399 of 1,000
hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: A security auditor is reviewing the cryptographic…
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of sscp exam topics. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A security auditor is reviewing the cryptographic algorithms used in an organization. Which THREE of the following are considered insecure or deprecated and should be avoided? (Select THREE.)
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
✓
DES
DES (Data Encryption Standard) uses a 56-bit key, which is too short to withstand modern brute-force attacks; it was officially withdrawn as a standard by NIST in 2005. 3DES, while an improvement, is now deprecated due to its relatively slow performance and susceptibility to meet-in-the-middle attacks, with NIST disallowing it for new applications after 2023. MD5 is a broken hash algorithm; collision attacks (e.g., using a chosen-prefix collision) can be performed in seconds on commodity hardware, making it unsuitable for any security-sensitive use.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
RSA-2048
Why it's wrong here
RSA with 2048-bit keys is still considered secure.
- ✓
DES
Why this is correct
DES uses a 56-bit key, making it vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
3DES
Why this is correct
3DES is deprecated due to performance issues and theoretical attacks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
AES-256
Why it's wrong here
AES-256 is a current standard and considered secure.
- ✓
MD5
Why this is correct
MD5 is vulnerable to collision attacks and is broken.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that 3DES is still acceptable because it is 'triple' strength, but the trap is that both DES and 3DES are deprecated due to small block sizes and key lengths, while MD5 is often mistakenly considered safe for checksums despite its proven collision vulnerabilities.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DES operates on 64-bit blocks with a 56-bit effective key, making it vulnerable to exhaustive key search in under 24 hours with custom hardware (e.g., the EFF DES Cracker). 3DES applies DES three times (encrypt-decrypt-encrypt) with two or three keys, but its 64-bit block size makes it susceptible to birthday attacks in high-volume environments (e.g., encrypting more than ~32 GB of data). MD5's collision resistance is broken; in 2008, researchers demonstrated a collision in under 2 hours on a cluster, and tools like HashClash can generate colliding X.509 certificates, enabling impersonation attacks.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DES — DES (Data Encryption Standard) uses a 56-bit key, which is too short to withstand modern brute-force attacks; it was officially withdrawn as a standard by NIST in 2005. 3DES, while an improvement, is now deprecated due to its relatively slow performance and susceptibility to meet-in-the-middle attacks, with NIST disallowing it for new applications after 2023. MD5 is a broken hash algorithm; collision attacks (e.g., using a chosen-prefix collision) can be performed in seconds on commodity hardware, making it unsuitable for any security-sensitive use.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This SSCP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SSCP exam.
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