Use of asymmetric encryption in an internet e-commerce site, where there is one private key for the hosting server and the public key is widely distributed to the customers, is MOST likely to provide comfort to the:

A. customer over the authenticity of the hosting organization.

B. hosting organization over the authenticity of the customer.

C. customer over the confidentiality of messages from the hosting organization.

D. hosting organization over the confidentiality of messages passed to the customer.

Explanation:

Any false site will not be able to encrypt using the private key of the real site, so the customer would not be able to decrypt the message using the public key. Many customers have access to the same public key so the host cannot use this mechanism to ensure the authenticity of the customer. The customer cannot be assured of the confidentiality of messages from the host as many people have access to the public key and can decrypt the messages from the host. The host cannot be assured of the confidentiality of messages sent out, as many people have access to the public key and can decrypt it.