Plaintext

Plaintext refers to data, especially text, that is readable and understandable without any special encoding or encryption. It's the raw, unformatted information in its original form, accessible and interpretable by anyone. This contrasts with ciphertext, which has been transformed to obscure its meaning. plaintext can include any form of digital information, from simple text documents and emails, to the code of software programs and the content of databases.

Plaintext meaning with examples

• The whistleblower provided the journalist with a document in plaintext format, making it immediately clear what sensitive information was being exposed. The journalist could quickly analyze the details and verify their authenticity, preparing the article for publication. Without decryption or special tools, the text's meaning was obvious and directly interpretable by the media outlet staff.
• In secure email communication, the sender's message is converted into ciphertext before transmission. Upon arrival, the recipient decrypts the ciphertext back into plaintext to read the original message. This process ensures privacy and prevents unauthorized access to confidential information during transit. The encryption process secures the plaintext from unwanted access.
• A security audit revealed that a database was storing sensitive customer data, including passwords, in plaintext. This was a major vulnerability as it allowed easy access to any attacker that gained unauthorized access to the system. The findings of the report showed that plaintext storage of sensitive data presented a high-risk situation, and data encryption was immediately recommended.
• During a software update, a system administrator might encounter a configuration file in plaintext. This means that the file's contents are easily viewed and edited by anyone with access to the file. Without special knowledge of the file's structure, the system administrator had access to change the file settings and had complete control over the system's functionality.