A records clerk proposes hashing archived city council minutes so the files stay confidential yet can be opened and read later. Why is that proposal incorrect?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
A hash is a fingerprint, not a lockbox. Once you turn minutes into a digest, you cannot unwind that digest back into the readable PDF—so hashing will not keep a confidential archive you plan to open later.
Full Explanation
Cryptographic hashing produces a fixed-size digest used to verify integrity; it is intentionally one-way and not designed for reversible confidentiality. Protecting readable archives requires encryption (or equivalent access-controlled storage), not hashing alone. Hashing also does not by itself provide non-repudiation, which depends on digital signatures and key custody.