Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

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When using a hash function, what is verified concerning a message?

The speed of the transmission
The integrity of the message
The encryption strength
The length of the message

The correct answer is: The integrity of the message

A hash function is a critical tool in computer security that transforms data into a fixed-length string of characters, which is typically a digest that represents the original set of data. The primary purpose of using a hash function in the context of a message is to ensure the integrity of that message. This means that when the message is sent, the hash function generates a unique hash value based on the message content. When the message is received, the same hash function is applied to the received message, producing a new hash value. By comparing the original hash value with the newly generated hash value, one can verify whether the message has remained unchanged during transmission. If both hash values match, it confirms that the message's content has not been altered or corrupted. In contrast, concerns such as transmission speed, encryption strength, and the length of the message are not directly related to the function of hash values. While these factors are important in data transmission and security, they do not pertain to the specific role of hash functions in verifying the content's integrity. Thus, the correct focus is on the integrity of the message, as that is the key aspect that hash functions are designed to address.