Which statement best describes encryption?

• A. It makes data unreadable without a key.
• B. It simply copies data to another location.
• C. It translates data so that only authorised users can decrypt it using a key.
• D. It permanently deletes the data.

Answer: (C)

Encryption is the process of turning readable data into a scrambled form so that only someone with the right key can turn it back into readable data. The best description here says it translates data so that only authorised users can decrypt it using a key, which captures both the transformation and the controlled access. Without the key, the data looks like gibberish, and with the key, the original information is recovered. This is what protects information when it’s sent over networks or stored, since only those with the key can read it. Copying data somewhere else isn’t encryption, permanently deleting data isn’t encryption, and saying data is unreadable without a key is true but incomplete because it doesn’t mention the ability to decrypt it with a key.