What does elliptical curve cryptography (ECC) primarily aim to achieve?

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) primarily aims to achieve stronger authentication with smaller keys. The fundamental concept behind ECC is that it provides a high level of security with significantly smaller key sizes when compared to traditional algorithms, such as RSA. This smaller key size results in faster computations and less resource consumption, making ECC particularly advantageous for environments with limited processing power and memory, such as mobile devices and embedded systems.

By using elliptic curves, ECC can maintain a strong level of security while ensuring that the keys used for encryption are much shorter. For example, a 256-bit key in ECC can provide a similar level of security to a 3072-bit key in RSA. This property makes ECC an efficient choice for various cryptographic applications, including secure communications and digital signatures.

The other options do not capture the primary aim of ECC as effectively. While faster processing speeds and reduced encryption time can be indirect benefits of using smaller keys, these are not the primary focus of ECC. The emphasis on achieving strong authentication specifically with smaller, more efficient keys is what distinguishes ECC in the landscape of cryptographic methods.