3.4.3

Ciphers

Test yourself

Ciphers

Some ciphers are harder to crack than others. Pigpen, Vigenere and rail fence ciphers are stronger than Caesar ciphers.

Illustrative background for Pigpen cipherIllustrative background for Pigpen cipher ?? "content

Pigpen cipher

  • The pigpen cipher is a simple substitution cipher.
  • Rather than replacing letters with other letters, the pigpen cipher replaces letters with symbols.
  • The image above represents the word "The".
Illustrative background for Vigenère cipherIllustrative background for Vigenère cipher ?? "content

Vigenère cipher

  • Vigenère cipher is a polyalphabetic substitution cipher.
  • Multiple Caesar cipher keys are shared between two parties.
  • The first letter is encrypted using the first key, the second with the second key and so on until all of the text is encrypted.
  • This protects against frequency analysis.
Illustrative background for Rail fence cipherIllustrative background for Rail fence cipher ?? "content

Rail fence cipher

  • Rail fence cipher is a transposition cipher.
  • In the rail fence cipher words are written out letter-by-letter in a zig-zag pattern.
  • Each row is then read, which scrambles up the letters.
  • If the recipient knows how many rows there originally were, then they can decrypt the message.

Jump to other topics

1Problem Solving

2Programming

3Data

4Computers

5Communication & The Internet

6The Bigger Picture

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium