Which of the following statements about RSA is true?

RSA is commonly used for secure data transmission because it is a widely accepted asymmetric encryption algorithm, which means it uses a pair of keys—a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. This dual-key approach allows for secure data transmission over insecure channels, making RSA especially useful in scenarios such as SSL/TLS for securing websites, email encryption, and digital signatures. The public key can be freely distributed to anyone wishing to send a secure message, while the private key is kept secret by the recipient, ensuring that only they can decrypt the messages intended for them. This method of utilizing a public and private key pair significantly enhances security in transmitting sensitive information.

In contrast, other statements do not accurately describe RSA, as it is not a symmetric encryption algorithm, does not rely on a single key, and while it has been around for a long time, it remains in use within various security protocols today.