Plaintext – Is It a Lapse in Security?
Plaintext handling is not secure and can reveal flaws in a cryptosystem by allowing an attacker to completely bypass the encryption. Plaintext, whether electronic or paper, is susceptible during usage and storage.
If plaintext is saved in a computer file, the storage media, the system and its components, and any backups must be secure. When sensitive data is processed on computers with detachable mass storage, the physical safety of the removed disk is crucial.
What is Plaintext?
Plaintext is an encryption technique, that converts an encrypted message. It refers to any readable data, including binary files, that can be seen or used without the requirement for a decryption key or device. Plain text is often used for several tasks, such as document creation, coding, and email communication. Plaintext implies any communication, document, or file that is meant to be or has already been encrypted. A cryptosystem accepts plaintext as input and produces ciphertext as output.