Security

/koʊdˈbreɪkɪŋ/

noun — "the process of deciphering or decoding encrypted information without prior knowledge of the key."

/ˌkrɪptəˈnæləsɪs/

noun — "the study and practice of analyzing and breaking cryptographic systems."

Cryptanalysis is the discipline concerned with examining cryptographic algorithms, ciphers, and encoded messages to uncover hidden information without access to the secret key. It combines mathematics, logic, computer science, and pattern recognition to discover weaknesses, reconstruct plaintext, or recover keys. Cryptanalysis is essential both for testing the security of encryption systems and for legitimate intelligence or historical codebreaking efforts.

/bɒm/

noun — "an electromechanical device designed to help decrypt Enigma-encrypted messages."

Bombe was an electromechanical machine developed during World War II to expedite the decryption of messages encoded by the German Enigma cipher. Designed to test multiple possible Enigma rotor and plugboard settings systematically, the Bombe reduced the vast number of potential key combinations to manageable levels, enabling Allied cryptanalysts to read enemy communications in near real-time.

/ˈsɪfər/

noun — "a method for transforming information to conceal its meaning."

A Cipher is a systematic technique used to encode information, transforming readable plaintext into an obscured or encrypted form known as ciphertext, with the intent of preventing unauthorized access or understanding. Ciphers form the backbone of cryptography, enabling secure communication, data protection, and authentication across digital and analog systems. The term emphasizes the algorithmic or procedural method applied to the information rather than the message itself.

/ˈdɪdʒɪtəl fɔːrˈɛnsɪks/

noun — "investigation of digital evidence."

/ˈmæskɪŋ/

noun — "selectively hiding or preserving bits."

Masking is the process of using a binary pattern, called a mask, to selectively manipulate, hide, or preserve specific bits within a data word or byte through bitwise operations. It is widely used in systems programming, embedded systems, digital communications, and data processing to isolate, modify, or test particular bits without affecting the remaining bits.

/ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən ˈhaɪdɪŋ/

noun — "concealing data within other data."

/ˈdɪdʒɪtəl ˈwɔːtərˌmɑːrkɪŋ/

noun — "embedding imperceptible markers in digital media."

/ˌliːst ˈsɪɡnɪfɪkənt bɪt/

noun — "smallest binary unit affecting data value."

LSB, short for Least Significant Bit, is the bit position in a binary number or data byte that represents the smallest value, typically the rightmost bit. In an 8-bit byte, the LSB corresponds to 2⁰, affecting the numeric value by 1. Modifying the LSB changes the overall value minimally, which is a property exploited in applications such as steganography, error detection, and low-level computing operations.

/ˌstɛɡəˈnæləsɪs/

noun — "detecting hidden information in media."