Question

The simplest method to encrypt a longer plaintext is known as the _______________________. It has serious weakness, therefore, do not use this method.

Answer 1

The simplest method to encrypt a longer plaintext is a transposition cipher, which the Zimmerman Telegram used, but it has serious weaknesses and should not be considered secure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The simplest method to encrypt a longer plaintext is known as the transposition cipher. It has serious weaknesses, therefore, it is not recommended to use this method for secure communication. The Zimmerman Telegram is an example where a transposition cipher was used. In a transposition cipher, the letters in plaintext are rearranged according to a rule. A common technique is to divide the plaintext into blocks and make the same change to the order of the letters in each block. A keyword can determine the size of the blocks and the specific change in the order of the letters within each block.