Question

• What are the advantages of hashing passwords and what are the main differences between symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic algorithms?
• Provide an example of a most recent cryptographic attack taking place and provide your opinion on how do you think the attack could have been prevented?

Answer 1

Hashing passwords cannot be compromised or stolen. Hashing is cryptographic in nature. Even if the server gets hacked but the passwords remain protected. It is fast and it converts plain text to a unique string which is difficult to decode. It is safe and secured.

Differences between symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic algorithms are:

• the speed of encryption is very fast in symmetric cryptography whereas slow in asymmetric cryptographic.
• in symmetric cryptography, only one key is used for encryption and decryption but in asymmetric cryptography, two different keys are used.
• in symmetric cryptography, both the sender and receiver know the key but in asymmetric cryptography, only one key is known to both the parties.
• Asymmetric algorithms are complicated than symmetric algorithms.
• The recommended key length in symmetric is 128 bits whereas for asymmetric it is 2048 bits.

NotPetya was a Russian cyber attack in 2017 on Ukraine in disguise in which the Ukraine National banks, Supermarkets, Public transports were targetted. The accounting firm "Intellect service" was breached. NotPetya is encrypting ransomware that infects master boot of the Windows computers and prompts for system rebooting. NonPetya does not need someone to launch it, it spreads on its own.

If The windows machines are updated with Windows 10 Operating system, it blocks the Ransomware. We need to avoid opening or downloading suspicious attachments, running a backup of important files, installing antivirus software with the latest updates.