Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) uses a Message Authentication Code (MAC) for what purpose?
Correct Answer: D
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), both of which are frequently referred to as 'SSL', are cryptographic protocols designed to provide communications security over a computer network.
The connection is reliable because each message transmitted includes a message integrity check using a message authentication code to prevent undetected loss or alteration of the data during transmission.
A message authentication code (MAC) is a short piece of information used to authenticate a message-in other words, to provide integrity and authenticity assurances on the message. Integrity assurances detect accidental and intentional message changes, while authenticity assurances affirm the message's origin.
A MAC algorithm, sometimes called a keyed (cryptographic) hash function (however, cryptographic hash function is only one of the possible ways to generate MACs), accepts as input a secret key and an arbitrary-length message to be authenticated, and outputs a MAC (sometimes known as a tag). The MAC value protects both a message's data integrity as well as its authenticity, by allowing verifiers (who also possess the secret key) to detect any changes to the message content.
Incorrect Answers:
A: Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) does not use a Message Authentication Code (MAC) for message non- repudiation.
B: Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) does not use a Message Authentication Code (MAC) for message confidentiality; it uses symmetric cryptography for that.
C: Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) does not use a Message Authentication Code (MAC) for message interleave checking.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_Layer_Security
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_authentication_code