Which statement about digitally signing a document is true?

Which statement about digitally signing a document is true?

• A. The document is hashed, and then the document is encrypted with a private key.
• B. The document is hashed, and then the hash is encrypted with a private key.
• C. The document is encrypted, and then the document is hashed with a public key.
• D. The document is hashed, and then the document is encrypted with a public key.

Answer: (B)

When digitally signing a document, the process involves creating a secure and unique representation of the document to ensure its authenticity and integrity. The correct statement is that the document is hashed, and then the hash is encrypted with a private key. In this process, first, the original document is hashed using a cryptographic hashing algorithm. This results in a fixed-length string of characters that uniquely represents the content of the document. Hashing is important because it condenses the document into a manageable size while also providing a unique fingerprint that can later be used to verify the document's integrity. After hashing, the hash value is encrypted using the signer's private key. This encryption serves as a digital signature. The private key is known only to the signer, which means that only they can generate this particular signature. When others wish to verify the signature, they can decrypt the hash using the corresponding public key. If the decrypted hash matches a newly computed hash of the original document, it confirms both the document's integrity and the authenticity of the sender. This process ensures that the document has not been altered after it was signed, and it validates who signed it, as the private key is tied to the identity of the signer. The other options involve incorrect sequences or irrelevant use of

When digitally signing a document, the process involves creating a secure and unique representation of the document to ensure its authenticity and integrity. The correct statement is that the document is hashed, and then the hash is encrypted with a private key.

In this process, first, the original document is hashed using a cryptographic hashing algorithm. This results in a fixed-length string of characters that uniquely represents the content of the document. Hashing is important because it condenses the document into a manageable size while also providing a unique fingerprint that can later be used to verify the document's integrity.

After hashing, the hash value is encrypted using the signer's private key. This encryption serves as a digital signature. The private key is known only to the signer, which means that only they can generate this particular signature. When others wish to verify the signature, they can decrypt the hash using the corresponding public key. If the decrypted hash matches a newly computed hash of the original document, it confirms both the document's integrity and the authenticity of the sender.

This process ensures that the document has not been altered after it was signed, and it validates who signed it, as the private key is tied to the identity of the signer. The other options involve incorrect sequences or irrelevant use of