A hash of data can be identified with ________ attacks, so it is customary to add ________ to a hash to ensure that the hash value appears to be different each time it is used.

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about two linked ideas in hashing: the type of attack that can be used to identify a hash of data, and the technique used to make hashes appear different on each use. First, consider dictionary attacks: these involve using a prepared list of common values (like common passwords or data patterns) to compute hashes and look for matches. This is a well-known threat against hash values, especially for passwords, because simple or common inputs can produce predictable hashes. Next, the remedy described is the use of a salt. A salt is random data added to the input before hashing, so that even if two users have the same password, their hashes will differ due to different salts. This makes precomputed attacks like rainbow tables far less effective because the attacker would need a separate table for each possible salt value, which is impractical. Now, evaluating the given option: 'dictionary; a salt' — it correctly identifies the attack type as dictionary attacks and the protective measure as a salt. If any surrounding options were present, we would compare them to see if they also mention dictionary attacks or salts, but with the information provided, this choice aligns with standard cryptographic practice. For the conceptual parts: the statement about dictionary attacks correctly captures how hash values can be exposed through common-input guessing, and the claim that adding a salt makes the hash appear different each time reflects the purpose of salting to thwart identical-hash patterns. Any alternative option that claims a different attack type (e.g., brute force with no need for common inputs) would be less precise for describing how hashes are typically exploited in practice, and any assertion against using salts would be incorrect because salts are specifically designed to address the identical-hash issue.

A hash of data can be identified with attacks, so it is customary to add to a hash to ensure that the hash value appears to be different each time it is used.

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