Cryptography is defined as:
A. The practice of encoding information so only authorized people can read it.
B. Verified authority to view information, such as a password or key.
C. Sensitive information sent over networks that needs to be secured.
D. The act of stealing personal information online.
A. The practice of encoding information so only authorized people can read it.
The correct answer is A. The practice of encoding information so only authorized people can read it.
To arrive at this answer, you can start by understanding what cryptography is. Cryptography is the science of creating and using codes to secure information. It involves various techniques and algorithms to convert plain text into ciphertext, making it unreadable to unauthorized individuals.
Option A states that cryptography is the practice of encoding information so only authorized people can read it, which accurately describes its purpose and function.
Option B, verified authority to view information, such as a password or key, is related to access control rather than cryptography itself.
Option C, sensitive information sent over networks that needs to be secured, describes the requirement for information security but does not specifically define cryptography.
Option D, the act of stealing personal information online, describes a form of cybercrime known as identity theft, which is unrelated to cryptography.
Therefore, option A is the correct definition of cryptography.