Which of the following encryption methods is considered symmetric?

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a widely used encryption method that is classified as symmetric encryption. In symmetric encryption, the same key is utilized for both the encryption and decryption processes. This means that both the sender and recipient must share and keep the key secret to ensure that the data remains secure.

AES operates on blocks of data and can use key sizes of 128, 192, or 256 bits, which allows it to provide a high level of security while maintaining efficiency in encryption and decryption operations. Its widespread acceptance and use in various applications, including securing data at rest and in transit, demonstrate its reliability and robustness in the field of cybersecurity.

In contrast, other choices involve different encryption mechanisms or protocols. For instance, Elliptic Curve encryption is a form of asymmetric encryption, where a pair of keys (public and private) is used. Rives Shamir Adleman (RSA) is also an asymmetric encryption method that relies on two keys, making it unsuitable for classification as symmetric. SHA-2, on the other hand, is a family of cryptographic hash functions rather than an encryption algorithm, as it does not involve keys for encrypting and decrypting data. Instead, it generates a unique hash value based on