Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam

What was the purpose of the Enigma machine during World War II?

1. To decode enemy communications

2. To encrypt messages for secure communication

3. To generate random keys for encryption

4. To analyze code-breaking strategies

The correct answer is: To encrypt messages for secure communication

The primary purpose of the Enigma machine during World War II was to encrypt messages for secure communication. The machine was used extensively by the German military to encode sensitive information and command communications, ensuring that even if the messages were intercepted, they could not be easily understood by the enemy. The complexity of the enciphering process, which involved manually setting rotors and plugboard connections, made the encrypted messages appear as gibberish to those who lacked the specific keys or knowledge of the machine’s configuration at the time of encoding. In contrast, while code-breaking efforts did take place, such as those performed by Allied cryptanalysts like the team led by Alan Turing at Bletchley Park, this was a separate process aimed at deciphering the messages produced by the Enigma rather than the machine's primary design. Furthermore, the Enigma machine itself did not generate random keys or analyze code-breaking strategies, rendering those options less relevant in the context of its intended use during the war.