Cipher Suites and Algorithms

Correct Answer: TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384

TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 is part of the TLS 1.3 specification and provides strong encryption and authentication. The other cipher suites listed are either from TLS 1.1/1.2 or they use weaker algorithms or provide less security.

Correct Answer: Forward secrecy

Forward secrecy is a characteristic of secure cipher suites in modern cryptographic protocols. It ensures that if a long-term key is compromised in the future, past session keys remain secure. This property enhances overall security by limiting the impact of key compromises.

Other options are incorrect:

Static key exchange is not a secure characteristic as it doesn't provide the same level of protection as dynamic key exchange methods.

Unchanging session keys are a security risk. Secure protocols use unique session keys for each communication session to limit the potential damage of key compromise.

Reuse of initialization vectors is a significant security vulnerability. Initialization vectors should be unique for each encryption operation to prevent attacks that exploit repeated patterns in encrypted data.

Forward secrecy, achieved through methods like Diffie-Hellman key exchange, represents a significant advancement in cryptographic protocols, providing enhanced security for modern communications.

Correct Answer: Key Exchange Algorithm

The Key Exchange Algorithm is responsible for establishing a secure connection between the client and the server, ensuring both parties can communicate securely. If there is an issue with this component, the entire secure connection is affected, so troubleshooting should start here.