What Is an Algorithm or Cipher?
Before exploring the different types of algorithms and ciphers available, it is important to understand what they are and how they work. First, the terms algorithm and cipher are used interchangeably to describe the formula or process used to perform encryption.
To understand an algorithm, consider the Caesar cipher discussed earlier. If the system were broken down into an algorithm and its components, it would look like this:
where:
-
X represents the original plaintext item.
-
Y represents the ciphertext of the original plaintext.
-
N is the key used during the process.
With this algorithm, to encrypt data, ...
Get Ethical Hacking: Techniques, Tools, and Countermeasures, 4th Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
