Algorithm
Algorithm is the set of instructions that tells a program on how to scramble and unscramble data. These are mathematical instructions written in programming code. Algorithms are required to be complex so they cannot be easily cracked.
Crypto experts check the strength of algorithms to check if there are fatal flaws, and if they find something, they send out notification through vendors and media.
Basic Terms
Encrypt – the scrambling of data to make it unreadable.
Decrypt – to unscramble the data to its original format.
Cipher – is another term for algorithm.
Key – a complex sequence of alpha-numeric characters, produced by the algorithm which allows the encryption and decryption of data. They lock and unlock the secret message.
Ciphertext – The data that has been encrypted.
Strong crypto – good algorithm.
Weak crypto – bad algorithm (can be easily cracked).
Project Puchufy 