What is the general term for converting plain text into coded symbols to prevent unauthorized access?

• A. Encryption
• B. Encoding
• C. Hashing
• D. Decryption

Answer: (A)

Encryption is the process of converting plain text into coded symbols to prevent unauthorized access. It uses algorithms and keys to transform readable data into ciphertext that appears meaningless without the key. Authorized users recover the original data by applying the correct key through decryption. Encryption can be symmetric, using the same key for encryption and decryption, or asymmetric, using a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. This protects data both when stored and when transmitted, ensuring that only those with the proper key can read it.

Encoding, by contrast, changes data into a different format for compatibility or transport and isn’t intended for secrecy. Hashing produces a fixed digest used for integrity checks and is not reversible, so it doesn’t hide content. Decryption is simply turning ciphertext back into plaintext, the reverse of encryption, not the initial transformation into coded symbols.