REVIEW QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS FOR VARIOUS SYMMETRIC
ENCRYPTION ALGORITHMS
QN1: Using the matrix (m*n) = (6*5), decrypt the following cipher-text phrase
“SIVMABETEPNJCYROTEUIYRSCRSITUT” into plain text
Solution
S E C U R
I T Y I S
V E R Y I
M P O R T
A N T S U
B J E C T
SECURITY IS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT
QN2: Using Rail fence transposition algorithm, encrypt the phrase “INSTITUTE OF
ACCOUNTANCY ARUSHA GRADUATES” with the key = 5.
Solution
Cipher-text: IENUU NTOUTRSOA SUFOAAHAT TTUCNYARE ICCGS
QN3: Using the Vigenère Cipher table, encrypt the following plaintext phrase “WE ARE
DISCOVERED SAVE YOURSELF”. Use the keyword “deceptive”
VIGENĔRE TABLEAU
Solution
Step 1
Write the plaintext as:
wearediscoveredsaveyourself
Since this message has a length of 27, it needs a key as long as 27 letters.
Step 2
Repeat the given keyword “deceptive” three times to obtain the following key:
deceptive deceptive deceptive
Step 3
Use this key and the Vigenĕre Tableau to encrypt the original plaintext into:
ZICVTWQNGRZGVTWAVZHCQYGLMGJ
QN4: The Vernam cipher uses English alphabet letters, whereby A to Z are given values from 01 to 26
respectively. Encrypt the phrase SECURITYISEVERYTHING using a key word TECHNOLOGY.
Answer:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Plaintext S E C U R I T Y I S E V E R Y T H I N G
Key T E C H N O L O G Y T E C H N O L O G Y
Plaintext 19 5 3 21 18 9 20 25 9 19 5 22 5 18 25 20 8 9 14 7
Key 20 5 3 8 14 15 12 15 7 25 20 5 3 8 14 15 12 15 7 25
TOTAL 39 10 6 29 32 24 32 40 16 44 25 27 8 26 39 35 20 24 21 32
Modulo 26 13 10 6 3 6 24 6 14 16 18 25 1 8 26 13 9 20 24 21 6
CIPHER M J F C F X F N P R Y A H Z M I T X U F
QN5: Using the XOR method, find the cipher of the following plaintext of bits
011100000110010110000000, whereby 10000101 used as a key.
Answer:
XOR logic table
Input Input Output
1 2
1 1 0
1 0 1
0 1 1
0 0 0
Plaintext 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Key 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Ciphertext 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
QN6: Given the ciphertext phrase [ ITFUCSNUANYHSTCTAATECARXIOONUX] from the
transposition cipher method, find the plaintext.
Solution
I T F U C S
N U A N Y H
S T C T A A
T E C A R X
I O O N U X
INSTITUTE OF ACOUNTANCY ARUSHA
QN7: Using playfair cipher method, encrypt the phrase “The Institute of Accountancy Arusha
Graduation” using the keyword “Friday”
Playfair table
F R I D A
Y B C E G
H K L M N
O P Q S T
U V W X Z
Plaintext: IN ST IT UT EO FA CX CO UN TA NC YA RU SH AG RA DU AT EX
Cipher-text: AL TO AQ ZO YS RF EW YQ ZH ZG LG GF FV OM GN IF FX GZ MD
QN8: Using the playfair cypher method encrypt the phrase “INFORMATION SECURITY” with the
keyword “MASTER”
Playfair Table
M A S T E
R B C D F
G H I/J K L
N O P Q U
V W X Y Z
IN FO RM AT IO NS EC UR IT YX
GP BU GR SE HP PM SF NF KS ZY
