What are two important applications of public-key encryption?

• A. Digital rights management and file encryption
• B. Digital signatures and key management
• C. Blockchain technology and password storage
• D. Data backup and virus protection

Answer: (B)

Public-key encryption plays a critical role in modern cybersecurity, particularly through its applications in digital signatures and key management.

In the context of digital signatures, public-key encryption allows individuals to sign documents or messages in a way that can be verified by anyone with access to their public key. This enhances the integrity and authenticity of electronic communications, ensuring that the sender cannot deny their involvement (non-repudiation) and that the message has not been altered in transit.

Key management is another essential application, as it involves the generation, exchange, and storage of cryptographic keys necessary for secure communications. Public-key infrastructure (PKI) utilizes public-key encryption to facilitate secure key exchanges, allowing parties to securely share information without the need for a previously shared secret key. This enhances security and simplifies the process of establishing secure connections in various systems.

While other choices may reference important areas of cybersecurity, they do not specifically highlight the critical functions of public-key encryption in the same foundational ways that digital signatures and key management do.