What is the process of applying a cipher to plaintext to produce ciphertext?

• A. Ciphering
• B. Encryption
• C. Hashing
• D. Scrambling

Answer: (B)

Encryption is the process of applying a cipher to plaintext to produce ciphertext. A cipher is an algorithm for transforming readable data into an unreadable form, and a key is used with that algorithm to control the transformation. The main idea is to protect confidentiality so that only someone with the correct decryption key can restore the original plaintext. This reversible protection is essential for keeping data secure when it’s stored or sent over networks.

Hashing, in contrast, is a one-way function used to verify integrity or authenticity; it doesn’t produce something that can be turned back into the original data. Scrambling isn’t a formal term for this process and lacks the defined, reversible method that encryption provides.