CodeHS The Internet Practice Test

What is the purpose of a public key provided by a website for secure communication?

It is used by clients to decrypt messages sent by the website It is used by clients to encrypt messages sent to the website It is stored in a password vault It defines the website's color scheme

Correct Answer:

It is used by clients to encrypt messages sent to the website

Explanation:

Public-key cryptography works by letting anyone encrypt data with a public key, but only the owner of the matching private key can decrypt it. The website publishes its public key so clients can encrypt messages that only the website can read using its private key. This keeps information private as it travels over the network. So the public key’s purpose is to let clients encrypt messages sent to the website. The other options don’t fit: decrypting requires the private key, not the public; public keys aren’t stored in a password vault; and color schemes have nothing to do with secure communication.

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