Plaintext vs Cleartext

The common cryptographic terms used for encrypted data are known as plaintext and cleartext where encryption is a process of converting plaintext into cipher text or vice versa. 

What is Plaintext?

The plaintext is the one where the unencrypted data is used as an input for the encryption process or as the output for the decryption process. It is referred to anything which is easy to understand by a human with a bare eye. It is quite common and easy which is why it is known as plaintext. Plain text is often used for a variety of purposes, including writing documents, coding software, and sending emails. It is also the preferred format for storing and transmitting large amounts of text data, as it is lightweight and easy to work with. It is often used for a variety of purposes, including writing documents, coding software, and sending emails.

Plaintext and ciphertext go together as one can be converted to the other and vice versa. Binary files are not considered in the category of plaintext as humans cannot understand the binary form i.e, 0s and 1s, but still, they are somehow accessible to the user. Basically, it refers to the information that is input into the cipher or an encryption algorithm.

Applications:

1. Plain text is used in writing documents, such as articles, reports, and essays, as it is easy to read and understand and does not include any formatting or multimedia elements that can be distracting.
2. Plain text is used in email communication as one of the formats for sending and receiving messages. The messages are not formatted and do not include multimedia elements.
3. Plain text is used in command-line interfaces, which are text-based interfaces used to interact with computers. The plain text allows for easy readability and input of commands by humans.

Advantages

• As they are so easy to work with, they can all be stored in the same folder.
• They are small in terms of memory size.
• Easy to open on different platforms.
• It is easy for windows to search through it.
• Easily understandable by humans.

Disadvantages

• No standard way to specify the data format.
• The text is too simple.
• Lack of data integrity measures.
• Leads to the repetition of values.

What is Cleartext?

Cleartext is the one where the data is unencrypted and is not intended for the encryption process. It is information that is stored or sent in an unencrypted form only. The clear text refers to unencrypted text, which means it can be read without the need for any special decoding or encryption keys. It means the text is not protected by any encryption method and can be easily read by anyone.

If data is stored in cleartext, then it is most likely to lead to theft, alteration, or unauthorized transmission of data. For Example, data are often protected with passwords or with one-time-passwords (OTPs), if the data is compromised, then it is very easy for the unauthorized party to hack the data as it will be available in its original form from then on.

To protect cleartext data by using secure protocols and technologies, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS). These protocols encrypt data as it is transmitted over the internet, making it much more difficult for hackers or other malicious actors to intercept and read the data.

However, it’s important to note that encryption and security protocols alone cannot guarantee complete protection against cleartext attacks.

Applications:

1. Windows stores passwords in cleartext such as autologin username and password.
2. It is often used to create log files, which are used to track and record system activity. Clear text log files can be easily read and understood by humans and computers.
3. It is used in text-based communication like chat and SMS. The messages are sent and received in clear text format, which can be easily read and understood by the recipient.

Advantages

• It is easily readable as clear text is unencrypted, which means it can be read by anyone without the need for special decryption tools.
• It is widely compatible as clear text is not dependent on any specific encryption method, which makes it widely compatible with different systems and devices.
• It is easy to process by computers because of its unencrypted and unformatted nature for natural language processing (NLP).

Disadvantages

• It is unencrypted and easily readable, which makes it vulnerable to hacking and other forms of cyber attacks.
• It is unencrypted, which means it is not suitable for storing or transmitting sensitive information.
• It can be easily modified or tampered with which makes it risky to use.
• It is not suitable for safe communication

Difference between Plaintext and Cleartext

Categories	Plaintext	Cleartext
Definition	The unencrypted data is used as an input for the encryption process or as the output for the decryption process.	The data is unencrypted and is not intended for the encryption process.
Applications	A browser, word processor, or email	Windows stores passwords in cleartext such as autologin username and password.
Advantages	As they are so easy to work with, they can all be stored in the same folder.	Used by various higher authorities so that others can not interfere in their private affairs.
Disadvantages	No standard way to specify the data format.	It is too complicated for a human to understand.

In summary, the plain text refers to unformatted text and clear text refers to unencrypted text, but the terms are often used interchangeably. Both types of text can be read and understood by humans without the need for special tools or decryption keys. However, plain text is simple and compatible with any device or operating system and easy to process by computers, while the clear text is readable without any special decryption tools, making it more accessible.