What does ciphertext mean?

Ciphertext is encrypted text transformed from plaintext using an encryption algorithm. Ciphertext can't be read until it has been converted into plaintext (decrypted) with a key. The decryption cipher is an algorithm that transforms the ciphertext back into plaintext. The term cipher is sometimes used as a synonym for ciphertext.

Can ciphertext be detected?

Yes, ciphertext can be detected, but unless it was human-readable, it would be impossible to determine the original text. A modern cipher like AES-256 would require machine computing power to encrypt text, and many times more computing power to decrypt the ciphertext without a key.

What are the different types of ciphertext?

Ciphertext can take many forms, depending on the encryption algorithm used. Some of the most commonly used encryption algorithms include: Caesar cipher – an encryption algorithm that replaces each letter of the plaintext with a letter shifted a certain number of positions down the alphabet.

What is a ciphertext-only attack?

A ciphertext-only attack is when an attacker can access ciphertext but not the corresponding plain text or key. Even though the attacker does not have enough information to decrypt the ciphertext, a vulnerable computer or app might accept the encrypted ciphertext in lieu of the original plain text.