Confidentiality in cryptography primarily protects against what type of threat?

Confidentiality in cryptography specifically aims to safeguard sensitive information from being accessed or disclosed to unauthorized individuals. This is achieved through various means, such as encryption, which transforms data into a format that cannot be easily interpreted without the appropriate decryption key. By ensuring that only authorized users can access the information, confidentiality protects against threats where sensitive data could be intercepted, read, or misappropriated by attackers.

The focus on unauthorized access emphasizes the core purpose of confidentiality measures in cryptography: to maintain privacy and prevent sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. In this context, it is essential for organizations to implement strong cryptographic practices to secure data during transmission and storage, ensuring that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable to those without permission.