Which aspect does hashing provide to data?

Which aspect does hashing provide to data?

• A. Increased speed for data retrieval
• B. Process isolation during data transmission
• C. Integrity by transforming data into a fixed-size output
• D. Ease of duplication for backups

Answer: (C)

Hashing is primarily used to ensure the integrity of data by generating a unique fixed-size output, known as a hash value or hash code, from the original input data. When data is hashed, even a slight change in the original data will produce a significantly different hash output. This makes it easy to verify whether the data has been altered or tampered with. By comparing the hash of the original data to the hash of the received or stored data, you can confirm its integrity. This function is crucial in various security protocols, such as digital signatures, data verification processes, and password storage. Hash functions are designed to be consistent and deterministic, meaning the same input will always produce the same output, reinforcing the reliability of hash values as a measure of data integrity. While speed in data retrieval, process isolation, and ease of duplication are important aspects in data handling and cybersecurity, they do not pertain specifically to the primary purpose of hashing. Hashing's main objective is to provide a method for verifying that the data remains unchanged, making integrity its key feature.

Hashing is primarily used to ensure the integrity of data by generating a unique fixed-size output, known as a hash value or hash code, from the original input data. When data is hashed, even a slight change in the original data will produce a significantly different hash output. This makes it easy to verify whether the data has been altered or tampered with. By comparing the hash of the original data to the hash of the received or stored data, you can confirm its integrity.

This function is crucial in various security protocols, such as digital signatures, data verification processes, and password storage. Hash functions are designed to be consistent and deterministic, meaning the same input will always produce the same output, reinforcing the reliability of hash values as a measure of data integrity.

While speed in data retrieval, process isolation, and ease of duplication are important aspects in data handling and cybersecurity, they do not pertain specifically to the primary purpose of hashing. Hashing's main objective is to provide a method for verifying that the data remains unchanged, making integrity its key feature.