Which of the following is a common method for securing data in transit?

Securing data in transit is essential to protect sensitive information from unauthorized interception while it is being transmitted over networks. Encryption is a method that ensures the confidentiality and integrity of the data during transmission. When data is encrypted, it is converted into a format that is unreadable by anyone who does not have the appropriate decryption key. This means that even if the data is intercepted, it cannot be understood or misused by unauthorized parties.

Encryption protocols like SSL/TLS for securing web communications or VPNs for safe remote access are commonly used to encrypt data while it is being transmitted over public or unsecured networks. This creates a secure tunnel for the data, ensuring that it remains accessible only to authorized users and systems.

In contrast, other choices like decryption and hashing serve different purposes. Decryption is the process of converting encrypted data back into its original format, which is not a method of securing data in transit but rather a step taken after data has been securely transmitted. Hashing is used to verify data integrity but does not encrypt or hide the data itself. File compression, on the other hand, reduces data size for transmission but does not add any security to the data.

Therefore, encryption stands out as the primary method for effectively securing data in transit.