A cryptogram is a block of text which has been rendered unreadable through the use of what is called a "substitution cypher". This means that each letter used in the original text has been substituted with another (G becomes A, F becomes P, etc.). Letter/word positions, spaces and punctuation ...

  In cryptography, a one-time pad is a system in which a private key generated randomly is used only once to encrypt a message that is then decrypted by the receiver using a matching one-time pad and key. Messages encrypted with keys based on randomness have the advantage that there ...

Refers to a cryptography or security product that makes exaggerated claims of what the product is capable of, giving the user a false sense of security. The term snake oil, which is credited to Matt Curtin for using in reference to computer security products, comes from ...

algorithm A procedure or mathematical formula. Cryptographic algorithms convert plaintext to and from ciphertext. cipher Synonym for ``cryptographic algorithm'' cryptanalysis To solve or ``break'' a cryptosystem. EAR Export Administration Regulations. The rules under which the export of cryptographic software from the US are governed now. escrow A third party able ...

Good cryptography is an excellent and necessary tool for almost anyone. Many good cryptographic products are available commercially, as shareware, or free. However, there are also extremely bad cryptographic products which not only fail to provide security, but also contribute to the many misconceptions and misunderstandings surrounding cryptography and security. Why ``snake oil''? The term ...

The process of converting data into a coded form (ciphertext) to prevent it from being read and understood by an unauthorized party.  Encryption refers to algorithmic schemes that encode plain text into non-readable form or cyphertext, providing privacy. The receiver of the encrypted text uses a "key" to decrypt the ...

A cipher is a way to make a word or message secret by changing or rearranging the letters in the message. (A code affects the word, not the individual letters.) One type of cipher, called a TRANSPOSITION CIPHER, is created by simply rearranging the letters in the word itself. For example, ...

Cryptanalysis is the art of deciphering encrypted communications without knowing the proper keys. Some of the more important cryptanalytic techniques are: Cipher text only attack: This is the situation where the attacker does not know anything about the contents of the ...

Users may be concerned that the use of biometric authentication will increase the danger that they will find themselves targeted by ruthless criminals who are intent on gaining entry to the assets protected by the biometric. With non-biometric authentication, cards, keys, and passwords could be stolen and used by criminals without the presence of ...

If details of countermeasures employed in biometric systems are publicised, it may help attackers to avoid or defeat them. Similarly, if attackers know what countermeasures are not employed, this will help them identify potential weaknesses in the system, and direct attacks towards those weak areas. The counter-argument is that public exposure of countermeasures and ...

This is a sometimes heard expression of concern about the potential misuse of biometric data stored on central databases. It refers to the threat to privacy that such centralised collections of personal data could pose if compromised. Biometric data are regarded as personal data and hence subject to the controls appropriate to personal data. ...

A digital signature is a block of data that was created using a secret key, and for which a public key can be used to verify that the signature was generated using the corresponding private key. The algorithm used to generate the signature must be such that ...