18.2.2. Analogy of the Lock Box

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is symmetric key encryption?

   Hint

   What does symmetric mean?

2. 2.

   Why is a key agreement necessary?

   Hint

   What happens if two parties don’t have a key?

3. 3.

   What type of encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption?

   • Asymmetric
   • Symmetric
   • Hashing

   Hint

   Think of it as two sides of the same coin.

4. 4.

   True or False: Key agreement can occur over a public channel without risk.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   What happens if someone intercepts the key?

5. 5.

   Design a scenario where Sita and Ram wish to communicate. Describe how they would use both symmetric key encryption and the Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol to secure their messages.

   Hint

   Think about how they establish and utilize their key.

6. 6.

   If an attacker manages to intercept the ciphertext, what steps might they take to decipher the original message? Discuss what measures could be put in place to mitigate such threats.

   Hint

   Consider the importance of key complexity and cryptographic strength.