What method can safeguard data privacy for remote users connecting over the public internet?

The method that best safeguards data privacy for remote users connecting over the public internet focuses on ensuring that the data transmitted remains confidential and secure from unauthorized access. IPsec authentication headers provide a significant advantage in this regard.

IPsec, or Internet Protocol Security, is a suite of protocols designed for securing Internet Protocol (IP) communications through the authentication and encryption of each IP packet within a communication session. The use of authentication headers within IPsec helps to verify the origin of the message and ensure that it has not been altered during transmission. This enhances data integrity and authenticity, which is critical when remote users are accessing sensitive information over untrusted networks.

While encryption is essential for data privacy, which it provides by making data unreadable to those who do not possess the key, the specific mention of IPsec authentication headers highlights the additional layer of security provided by verifying data integrity and authenticity during transmission. Strong passwords and hashing the data serve important roles in security but do not directly address the requirement for securing data transmission over public internet connections. Strong passwords safeguard access control, while hashing is typically used for password storage and verification rather than for data in transit.