Question

Identify three situations in which the hashing function can be applied. (Choose three.)

DES
PKI
PPoE
IPsec
CHAP
WPA

Answer 1

Hash functions are used in WPA for password security, IPsec for data integrity and authenticity, and CHAP for password protection during authentication.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hashing functions are mathematical algorithms that convert data into a fixed-size hash value, which is typically used for indexing and to verify data integrity. In the context of the options provided, three situations where hashing functions can be applied are:

WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access): Hashing is used in WPA to secure wireless networks by hashing the network password in a process called PSK (Pre-Shared Key) hashing.

IPsec (Internet Protocol Security): This network protocol suite uses hashing to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the data packets exchanged in a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection.

CHAP (Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol): In CHAP mechanisms, passwords are hashed before being sent over the network to protect against eavesdropping.

Note: DES (Data Encryption Standard) is a symmetric-key algorithm for encryption, not hashing. PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) involves both encryption and hashing but is a broader system related to digital certificates management. PPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) is a network protocol that encapsulates PPP frames within Ethernet frames, not directly related to hashing.

Answer 2

Hashing functions can be applied in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) for digital signature creation, in IPsec for data integrity and authentication, and in Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) for securing wireless networks.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hashing functions are a fundamental component of many cryptographic protocols and systems. These functions take an input and produce a fixed-size string of bytes that appears random. The outcome is a hash or digest that is unique to the given input. When discussing situations where hashing functions can be applied, we're generally referring to the security and cryptographic contexts. Three specific instances of the application of hashing functions include:

• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): Hashing is used for creating digital signatures. In PKI systems, a user's private key signs a hash of the data, which can then be verified using the corresponding public key.
• IPsec: This network protocol suite uses hashing for ensuring data integrity and origin authentication. Hash-based Message Authentication Codes (HMACs) are commonly used in association with hashing algorithms within IPsec.
• Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA): In WPA, hashing functions are used as part of the process to secure wireless networks. It creates a hash as part of the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP), which is used to secure each packet of data.

The other options like DES, and CHAP are also related to cryptography, but they are not situations where hashing functions are directly applied. DES is a symmetric encryption algorithm, CHAP is an authentication scheme that uses a handshake process, and PPPoE is a network protocol that encapsulates PPP frames within Ethernet frames.