Which of the following is a method for protecting data integrity in transmission?

Using checksum or hashing algorithms is an effective method for protecting data integrity during transmission. These algorithms create a unique fixed-size hash value that represents the original data. When data is sent over a network, a checksum or hash is calculated based on the data before transmission. Upon receipt, the hash is recalculated to confirm that the data has not been altered during transit. If the two hash values match, it indicates that the data integrity has been preserved; if not, it suggests that the data may have been corrupted or tampered with during transmission.

This method specifically addresses the need to verify the accuracy and integrity of the data itself, making it highly relevant to maintaining data integrity in transmission scenarios. Other security measures, such as firewalls, virtual private networks, and antivirus software, serve important roles in overall network security but do not directly focus on confirming data integrity during the transmission process. Firewalls primarily control network traffic based on predetermined security rules, virtual private networks focus on creating secure connections to safeguard data in transit, and antivirus software is designed to protect systems from malware rather than providing specific mechanisms for data integrity verification.