Certification Authority

C.

A certification authority (CA) is a trusted third-party organization that is responsible for issuing digital certificates that verify the identity of individuals, organizations, or devices. Digital certificates are electronic documents that contain identifying information, such as a person or organization's name and public key. They are used to facilitate secure electronic communication and transactions over the internet by verifying the identity of the parties involved.

The best answer among the given options is C. A certification authority is an entity that issues digital certificates for use by other parties. This means that a CA is responsible for verifying the identity of individuals, organizations, or devices requesting a digital certificate and then issuing a certificate that attests to that identity.

A certification authority typically follows a specific process to verify the identity of the certificate holder, including confirming their identity documents and possibly performing a background check. Once the identity is verified, the CA generates a digital certificate that contains information about the certificate holder and their public key.

When a user attempts to connect to a secure website or initiate a secure transaction, the user's web browser checks the digital certificate presented by the website or transaction system against a list of trusted CAs. If the digital certificate is verified by a trusted CA, the user's browser establishes a secure connection with the website or system.

In summary, a certification authority is a trusted third-party organization that verifies the identity of individuals, organizations, or devices and issues digital certificates that are used to facilitate secure electronic communication and transactions over the internet.