Glossary
Cipher – A process or set of instructions for converting one set of symbols into another. The word cipher is also used to describe a piece of information that has been encrypted
Code – Words, letters or symbols that are used to represent others in order to keep a secret
Codebook – A list of words, phrases or symbols used to represent other words
Cryptography – The science of encryption and decryption. The study of these subjects is called cryptology
Decryption – The act of converting an encrypted piece of information into plain text
Encryption – The act of converting information into a coded form
Espionage – The process or act of obtaining secret information through the use of spies, secret agents, or surveillance equipment. Also known as spying.
Intelligence – Important information relating to a case or mission. Sometimes shortened to “Intel”
Key – A word, phrase, value, or object that allows a cipher to be correctly decrypted
Morse Code – A type of substitution cipher in which letters and numbers are represented using dots and dashes
Operation – A mission
Operative – A spy or secret agent
Plain Text – Information that has not been encrypted or encoded
Safehouse – A secret location or base for spies to hide out
Shift cipher – A cipher that encrypts data by shifting the letters in the plain text by a specified value
Substitution Cipher – A cipher that encrypts information by swapping the plain text letters with other symbols
