Difference between revisions of "Cryptography glossary"
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | This is a list of common cryptographic terms and their meanings. | + | This is a list of some of the more common cryptographic terms and their meanings. |
{| class="wikitable" | | {| class="wikitable" | | ||
! Word !! Definition | ! Word !! Definition | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Attack || Any process of trying to read encrypted information that is unwanted by the creator. | + | | Attack || Any process of trying to read encrypted information that is unwanted by the creator. There are many different types of attacks, each works against a particular weakness of a cipher. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Brute Force Attack || An attack which attempts every possible password combination. Brute force attacks are the slowest attacks, but are guaranteed to get the correct answer. However, even with modern systems, a long key will take years to find through brute force. Also known as an exhaustive search. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Cipher || Any algorithm that converts plaintext into ciphertext. Examples include the [[Caesar Cipher]], [[One-Time Pad]], and many others. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Crack || The process of deciphering information without needing the key. In cryptography, the goal is to make ciphers that are uncrackable. | + | | Ciphertext || Ciphertext is information that has been encrypted through a cipher and is no longer readable. Before it has been encrypted, it is called plaintext. |
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Crack || The process of deciphering information without needing the key or by guessing the key. In cryptography, the goal is to make ciphers that are uncrackable. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Decrypt || The act of deciphering information to its original plainly readable form through the use of a key. | | Decrypt || The act of deciphering information to its original plainly readable form through the use of a key. | ||
Line 26: | Line 28: | ||
| Lookup Attack || An attack which uses a premade list to defeat a cipher, examples include a [[Dictionary Attack]] and a [[Rainbow Attack]]. Lookup attacks are often defeated by using a salt. | | Lookup Attack || An attack which uses a premade list to defeat a cipher, examples include a [[Dictionary Attack]] and a [[Rainbow Attack]]. Lookup attacks are often defeated by using a salt. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | Man In the Middle Attack || An attack where someone intercepts an encrypted message, and replaces it with a different message. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Password || A password is a piece of information that can be remembered which is used to generate a key to decrypt ciphertext. | + | | Nonce || A one-time random salt used to prevent a attacks like a [[Replay Attack]]. |
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Password || A password is a piece of information that can be remembered which is used to generate a key to decrypt ciphertext. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Plaintext || Plaintext refers to readable information before it has been encrypted. Once plaintext has been encrypted, it becomes ciphertext. | | Plaintext || Plaintext refers to readable information before it has been encrypted. Once plaintext has been encrypted, it becomes ciphertext. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Private Key || A key that must only be known to the sender and recipient in order for the encryption to be secure. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Pseudorandom || Something that appears random, but isn't. Most values generated by computers are actually pseudorandom rather than random. | | Pseudorandom || Something that appears random, but isn't. Most values generated by computers are actually pseudorandom rather than random. | ||
Line 37: | Line 43: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Salt || Information added to plaintext before being hashed or encrypted to help prevent lookup attacks. | | Salt || Information added to plaintext before being hashed or encrypted to help prevent lookup attacks. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Trapdoor Function || A mathematical function that is easy to compute one-way, but difficult to computer in reverse. Trapdoor functions are often used in public key encryption. | ||
|} | |} | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | [[Category: Cryptography]] |
Revision as of 14:57, 13 October 2017
This is a list of some of the more common cryptographic terms and their meanings.
Word | Definition |
---|---|
Attack | Any process of trying to read encrypted information that is unwanted by the creator. There are many different types of attacks, each works against a particular weakness of a cipher. |
Brute Force Attack | An attack which attempts every possible password combination. Brute force attacks are the slowest attacks, but are guaranteed to get the correct answer. However, even with modern systems, a long key will take years to find through brute force. Also known as an exhaustive search. |
Cipher | Any algorithm that converts plaintext into ciphertext. Examples include the Caesar Cipher, One-Time Pad, and many others. |
Ciphertext | Ciphertext is information that has been encrypted through a cipher and is no longer readable. Before it has been encrypted, it is called plaintext. |
Crack | The process of deciphering information without needing the key or by guessing the key. In cryptography, the goal is to make ciphers that are uncrackable. |
Decrypt | The act of deciphering information to its original plainly readable form through the use of a key. |
Defeat | The act of circumventing a system to get secret information. This can include cracking a cipher, obtaining keys through theft or subterfuge, or any other manner. |
Encrypt | The act of enciphering information so that it cannot be plainly read without first decrypting it using a key. |
Hash | The result of putting information through a hash function. |
Hash Function | A algorithm that converts an arbitrary amount of information into a fixed-length of information called a hash. Hash functions are one-way so the original information cannot be recovered from the hash. |
Key | The information necessary to decrypt information that has been encrypted. This is different than a password which is an easily-remembered piece of information that is usually converted into a key. |
Lookup Attack | An attack which uses a premade list to defeat a cipher, examples include a Dictionary Attack and a Rainbow Attack. Lookup attacks are often defeated by using a salt. |
Man In the Middle Attack | An attack where someone intercepts an encrypted message, and replaces it with a different message. |
Nonce | A one-time random salt used to prevent a attacks like a Replay Attack. |
Password | A password is a piece of information that can be remembered which is used to generate a key to decrypt ciphertext. |
Plaintext | Plaintext refers to readable information before it has been encrypted. Once plaintext has been encrypted, it becomes ciphertext. |
Private Key | A key that must only be known to the sender and recipient in order for the encryption to be secure. |
Pseudorandom | Something that appears random, but isn't. Most values generated by computers are actually pseudorandom rather than random. |
Random | A produced value that cannot be predicted. Random values are extremely difficult to produce, and are usually pseudorandom. |
Salt | Information added to plaintext before being hashed or encrypted to help prevent lookup attacks. |
Trapdoor Function | A mathematical function that is easy to compute one-way, but difficult to computer in reverse. Trapdoor functions are often used in public key encryption. |