Difference between revisions of "Cryptography glossary"
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| 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. | | 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. | ||
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− | | Lookup Attack || An attack which uses a premade list to defeat a cipher, examples include | + | | 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. |
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Nonce || A one-time salt, usually random, used to prevent a [[Replay Attack]]. | ||
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| Password || A password is a piece of information that can be remembered which is used to generate a key to decrypt ciphertext. | | Password || A password is a piece of information that can be remembered which is used to generate a key to decrypt ciphertext. |
Revision as of 13:57, 13 October 2017
This is a list of common cryptography terms and their meanings.
Word | Definition |
---|---|
Attack | Any process of trying to read encrypted information that is unwanted by the creator. |
Cipher | Any algorithm that converts plaintext into ciphertext. Examples include the One-Time Pad, Caesar Cipher, and many others. |
Ciphertext | Ciphertext is information that has been encrypted and is no longer readable. Before it has been encrypted, it is called plaintext. |
Crack | The process of deciphering information without needing 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. |
Nonce | A one-time salt, usually random, used to prevent 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. |
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. |