Security Terms

• Ciphertext - Text or data that has been enciphered such that unauthorized persons should be unable to read it.
• Cipher - A mathematical function that is used to perform encryption or decryption.
• Cryptoanalysis - The practice of analyzing ciphertext with the intent of breaking it.
• Cryptography - Science dealing with keeping messages secure.
• Cryptology - The section of mathematics that deals with cryptography and cryptoanalysis.
• Decipher - The act of taking text that is enciphered so unauthorized persons cannot read it and processing it into plain text or data that can be read or used.
• Decryption - The process of turning an encrypted message (ciphertext) back into plaintext.
• Encipher - The act of taking plain text or data nnd processing it into ciphertext so unauthorized personnel cannot read it or use it.
• Encryption - The process of hiding the contents of a message.
• One way hash functions - A function that can be easily performed one way but is difficult or impossible to reverse.
• Plaintext - Normal text or data, before the enciphering process or after the deciphering process.
• Salting - Adding random data to a password prior to performing a one way hash on it. This is a means of stopping a dictionary attack.