In a hybrid encryption scheme, why is symmetric encryption used to encrypt the actual document while asymmetric encryption is used to encrypt the symmetric key?

### Why this is right The lesson assigns different roles to the two methods: symmetric encryption handles the document, and asymmetric encryption protects the symmetric key. The recipient’s private key provides the route to recover that key. ### The concept A symmetric method uses one shared key for encryption and decryption. An asymmetric method uses a related public and private key pair. In the hybrid exercise, the sender encrypts the file with the symmetric key, then encrypts that key using the recipient’s public key. The recipient reverses those steps in the required order. This is why hybrid encryption is not simply two names for the same operation. ### What a good answer covers - The document is encrypted with the symmetric key. - The recipient’s public key encrypts the symmetric key. - The matching private key recovers that symmetric key. - The recovered symmetric key decrypts the document. ### Terms - **Symmetric encryption**: Encryption and decryption using the same key. - **Asymmetric encryption**: Encryption using a public and private key pair. - **Hybrid encryption**: A workflow combining the two methods. ### Remember Identify which data each key protects: the symmetric key protects the file, and the public key protects the symmetric key.