Fundamentals of InfoSecintermediate
A colleague asks for the private key so they can send you an encrypted file. What should you provide instead?
Answer
Your public key
Explanation
### Why this is right
The colleague needs your public key to encrypt data for you. You keep the matching private key so that only you can decrypt the file.
### The concept
Asymmetric encryption allows a public key to be shared without exposing the private key. A passphrase may protect a stored private-key file, but neither the file nor its passphrase should be distributed to senders.
### The other options
- **B. Your private key and its passphrase**: these are secret credentials and should remain with you.
- **C. A hash of your private key**: a hash is not the public key and cannot perform the encryption operation.
- **D. Your encrypted file**: it does not enable the colleague to encrypt a file for you.
### Remember
To receive confidential data, share the public key and protect the private key.
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