Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) Practice Test

A key characteristic of steganography is that it focuses on hiding the existence of the message itself. Unlike encryption, which obscures the content of the message but reveals that a message is present, steganography aims to conceal the very fact that communication is taking place. This can involve embedding a message within another medium, such as an image or audio file, so that an observer is unaware that there is any message to find. This quality makes steganography particularly effective for covert communication, as it is often used to transmit sensitive information without attracting attention.

The option that mentions encryption pertains more to cryptographic techniques, which emphasize securing the contents rather than hiding their existence. The option about the message being easily altered relates to the integrity and authenticity of the message but does not specify a foundational aspect of steganography. The mention of using only one key is associated with symmetric encryption rather than steganography.