Data are made anonymous by destroying all identifiers connected to the data. What is the term that describes this process?

Data are made anonymous by destroying all identifiers connected to the data. What is the term that describes this process?

• A. Pseudonymization
• B. Encryption
• C. Anonymization
• D. Aggregation

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is removing all identifiers so the data cannot be linked back to any individual. When identifiers such as names, addresses, or other personal keys are destroyed, the data becomes anonymous and cannot reasonably be used to identify a person. This specific process is called anonymization. It’s different from pseudonymization, where identifiers are replaced with codes but a way to re-link to the person still exists; encryption, which hides data with a key but can be reversed with the key; and aggregation, which combines data so individuals aren’t identifiable but doesn’t necessarily remove identifiers from each record. The goal of anonymization is to prevent re-identification by removing these links to identity.

The main idea here is removing all identifiers so the data cannot be linked back to any individual. When identifiers such as names, addresses, or other personal keys are destroyed, the data becomes anonymous and cannot reasonably be used to identify a person. This specific process is called anonymization. It’s different from pseudonymization, where identifiers are replaced with codes but a way to re-link to the person still exists; encryption, which hides data with a key but can be reversed with the key; and aggregation, which combines data so individuals aren’t identifiable but doesn’t necessarily remove identifiers from each record. The goal of anonymization is to prevent re-identification by removing these links to identity.