Basic Cryptanalysis Techniques

Cryptography is a complex and mathematically challenging field of study. It involves taking some data or message and obfuscating it so that it is unreadable by parties that the message was not intended. Before the message becomes encrypted it is referred to as the plain text . Once a message becomes encrypted it is then referred to as the cipher text . The study of cipher text in an attempt to restore the message to plaintext is known as cryptanalysis. Cryptanalysis is equally mathematically challenging and complex as cryptography. Because of the complexity involved with cryptanalysis work this document is only focused on the basic techniques needed to decipher monoalphabetic encryption ciphers and cryptograms.