In asymmetric encryption, which key is publicly distributed?

In asymmetric encryption, which key is publicly distributed?

• A. Public
• B. Private
• C. Symmetric Key
• D. Master Key

Answer: (A)

In public-key (asymmetric) cryptography, a pair of keys is used: a public key and a private key. The public key is designed to be shared openly so anyone can use it to encrypt messages to the key owner or to verify a signature made by the key owner. The private key, held only by the owner, is kept secret and is the one that can decrypt those messages or create signatures that others can verify with the public key. This separation enables secure communication without pre-sharing a secret key. The private key is not distributed publicly, which is why it’s not used for encryption by others. A symmetric key is a single shared secret used in symmetric encryption, not part of the public/private pair, so it isn’t publicly distributed. A master key isn’t the standard term for this context, and it isn’t the key meant to be publicly shared in asymmetric setups.

In public-key (asymmetric) cryptography, a pair of keys is used: a public key and a private key. The public key is designed to be shared openly so anyone can use it to encrypt messages to the key owner or to verify a signature made by the key owner. The private key, held only by the owner, is kept secret and is the one that can decrypt those messages or create signatures that others can verify with the public key. This separation enables secure communication without pre-sharing a secret key.

The private key is not distributed publicly, which is why it’s not used for encryption by others. A symmetric key is a single shared secret used in symmetric encryption, not part of the public/private pair, so it isn’t publicly distributed. A master key isn’t the standard term for this context, and it isn’t the key meant to be publicly shared in asymmetric setups.