Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which category does Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) belong to?

1. File transfer protocol

2. Email encryption protocol

3. Network management protocol

4. Remote login protocol

The correct answer is: Email encryption protocol

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) is primarily recognized as an email encryption protocol. It is designed to secure email communication by encrypting the contents of messages, thereby ensuring privacy and preventing unauthorized access. PGP uses a combination of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography to achieve this; the sender encrypts the message with a symmetric key that is then encrypted using the recipient's public key. This dual-layer of security ensures that only the intended recipient with the corresponding private key can decrypt and read the message. In contrast, the other options represent different types of protocols that do not align with PGP's primary function. A file transfer protocol is focused on transferring files between computers on a network, network management protocols deal with the monitoring and management of network resources, and remote login protocols allow users to log into remote systems. Since PGP is specifically aimed at ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of email communication, its classification as an email encryption protocol is accurate and significant in the context of cybersecurity and ethical hacking.