In a shift cipher, are the letters at the end of the alphabet replaced with letters from the beginning of the alphabet according to modular arithmetic?
The shift cipher, also known as the Caesar cipher, is a classical substitution cipher that forms a foundational concept in cryptography. This cipher operates by shifting each letter in the plaintext by a predetermined number of positions down the alphabet. A critical aspect of this method involves the treatment of letters at the end of
- Published in Cybersecurity, EITC/IS/CCF Classical Cryptography Fundamentals, History of cryptography, Modular arithmetic and historical ciphers
What does the value K stand for in a shift cipher?
In classical cryptography, particularly in the context of the shift cipher—which is often referred to as the Caesar cipher—the value denoted by represents the key used for both encryption and decryption processes. The shift cipher is a type of substitution cipher where each letter in the plaintext is shifted by a fixed number of positions
- Published in Cybersecurity, EITC/IS/CCF Classical Cryptography Fundamentals, History of cryptography, Modular arithmetic and historical ciphers
Is mod K arithmetic used in a shift cipher, where K is the value of the key and denotes the number of shifted letters?
The question asks whether mod K arithmetic is used in a shift cipher, where K is the value of the key and denotes the number of shifted letters. To address this, a thorough analysis of the mechanics of shift ciphers, their mathematical underpinnings, and the precise use of modular arithmetic within their encryption and decryption
- Published in Cybersecurity, EITC/IS/CCF Classical Cryptography Fundamentals, History of cryptography, Modular arithmetic and historical ciphers
How to account for wrapping around in a shift cipher?
In the field of classical cryptography, the shift cipher is a simple and widely used encryption technique. It operates by shifting each letter of the plaintext by a fixed number of positions in the alphabet. To account for wrapping around, where shifting beyond the end of the alphabet would result in a loop back to