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If you have a TRULY random key (in binary) and you have a text (in binary) that you want to encrypt.

Can you simple XOR the key and the text?

Is that secure?

How secure?

Stefan
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  • Welcome to Crypto.SE. I recommend you checked out one time pad. Then, with a basic understanding on that, try searching this site for any questions that might pop up. I hope this helps. – rath May 09 '15 at 14:43
  • I have already read that and did not quite find the answer. I don't need a super fancy answer just the questions I already have written. – Stefan May 09 '15 at 14:50

1 Answers1

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XORing a key and message is called a one time pad. It is perfectly secure, providing confidentiality, when used correctly. That last part is the hard part, along with finding a situation in which you only need confidentiality.

Community
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Thomas M. DuBuisson
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  • I think there are some conditionals that need to be added here. Not all keys will get the security you describe. – mikeazo May 10 '15 at 21:45
  • Absolutely. Clearly this is an incomplete answer to an insufficient question which we all hope will be followed by additional research. – Thomas M. DuBuisson May 10 '15 at 23:03