Which statement best describes encryption in simple terms?

• A. It makes data easier to read for everyone
• B. It slows down computer performance for no reason
• C. It converts readable data into unreadable without a key
• D. It duplicates data for backup

Answer: (C)

Encryption turns readable information into a shuffled form that can only be understood again with the correct key. Think of it as scrambling data so that anyone who intercepts it can’t read it unless they have the key to unscramble it. This protects confidentiality whether data is stored or sent over a network. The option that says it converts readable data into unreadable without a key matches this idea exactly. The other statements miss the purpose: making data easier to read for everyone, slowing down a computer for no reason, or duplicating data for backups are not what encryption is about.