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Encrypting then Base64 Encoding


Compute the AES-encryption key given the plaintext and its ciphertext?Base64 conversion for byte array in encryptionCBC-R Cookie EncryptionSecurity Implications of using Base64 Encoding with EncryptionHow strong is a simple XOR encryption with random IV?Is it possible to construct a specific AES collision?What CryptoPP APIs Output Round By Round Results for AES Encryption/Decryption?Is encrypting a CRC with the plaintext ok?AES-CBC then SHA vs AES-GCM for encrypting and authenticating a web tokenGeneral Purpose Hybrid Encryption File Format













4















I notice online encryption tools encrypt the plaintext and output the ciphertext in base64 format. Why is ciphertext outputted in base64 format? Can the ciphertext be outputted in binary format?










share|improve this question






















  • You can translate that data into any base, it just happens that Base64 is well suited for the web; it's composed of characters that are safe to use in URLs.

    – meagar
    5 hours ago















4















I notice online encryption tools encrypt the plaintext and output the ciphertext in base64 format. Why is ciphertext outputted in base64 format? Can the ciphertext be outputted in binary format?










share|improve this question






















  • You can translate that data into any base, it just happens that Base64 is well suited for the web; it's composed of characters that are safe to use in URLs.

    – meagar
    5 hours ago













4












4








4








I notice online encryption tools encrypt the plaintext and output the ciphertext in base64 format. Why is ciphertext outputted in base64 format? Can the ciphertext be outputted in binary format?










share|improve this question














I notice online encryption tools encrypt the plaintext and output the ciphertext in base64 format. Why is ciphertext outputted in base64 format? Can the ciphertext be outputted in binary format?







encryption cryptography






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 5 hours ago









Angela LipfordAngela Lipford

332




332












  • You can translate that data into any base, it just happens that Base64 is well suited for the web; it's composed of characters that are safe to use in URLs.

    – meagar
    5 hours ago

















  • You can translate that data into any base, it just happens that Base64 is well suited for the web; it's composed of characters that are safe to use in URLs.

    – meagar
    5 hours ago
















You can translate that data into any base, it just happens that Base64 is well suited for the web; it's composed of characters that are safe to use in URLs.

– meagar
5 hours ago





You can translate that data into any base, it just happens that Base64 is well suited for the web; it's composed of characters that are safe to use in URLs.

– meagar
5 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2














Ciphertext can be output in binary format. For example, gpg defaults to binary format, and you need to specify --armor to make it base64:



--armor
-a
Create ASCII armored output. The default is to create the binary OpenPGP format.


The reason you see ASCII/base64 more often is that it is easier to transfer and manipulate than binary. SMTP email, for example, cannot handle binary data without encoding it, so having a non-binary format makes it simpler to email encrypted text. FTP may default to non-binary mode which will introduce errors when transferring a binary file. Even something as simple as popping open a file in an editor to make sure it "looks like it's there" is easier with non-binary formats.






share|improve this answer






























    1














    A web browser has to print a visual representation of the binary data. The usual visual representation of binary data is the hexadecimal notation.



    Now observe: The space overhead of hex-encoded data is factor 2 (we need 2 ascii characters for one byte).
    The space overhead of base64-encoded data is only 1.33, making it more space-efficient than hex-encoded data.



    Moreover, I suspect that the tool support for base64-encoded data is at least as good as for hex-encoded data.



    For instance, you can copy-paste a base64-encoded ciphertext directly into a PEM file.






    share|improve this answer
























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      2 Answers
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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      2














      Ciphertext can be output in binary format. For example, gpg defaults to binary format, and you need to specify --armor to make it base64:



      --armor
      -a
      Create ASCII armored output. The default is to create the binary OpenPGP format.


      The reason you see ASCII/base64 more often is that it is easier to transfer and manipulate than binary. SMTP email, for example, cannot handle binary data without encoding it, so having a non-binary format makes it simpler to email encrypted text. FTP may default to non-binary mode which will introduce errors when transferring a binary file. Even something as simple as popping open a file in an editor to make sure it "looks like it's there" is easier with non-binary formats.






      share|improve this answer



























        2














        Ciphertext can be output in binary format. For example, gpg defaults to binary format, and you need to specify --armor to make it base64:



        --armor
        -a
        Create ASCII armored output. The default is to create the binary OpenPGP format.


        The reason you see ASCII/base64 more often is that it is easier to transfer and manipulate than binary. SMTP email, for example, cannot handle binary data without encoding it, so having a non-binary format makes it simpler to email encrypted text. FTP may default to non-binary mode which will introduce errors when transferring a binary file. Even something as simple as popping open a file in an editor to make sure it "looks like it's there" is easier with non-binary formats.






        share|improve this answer

























          2












          2








          2







          Ciphertext can be output in binary format. For example, gpg defaults to binary format, and you need to specify --armor to make it base64:



          --armor
          -a
          Create ASCII armored output. The default is to create the binary OpenPGP format.


          The reason you see ASCII/base64 more often is that it is easier to transfer and manipulate than binary. SMTP email, for example, cannot handle binary data without encoding it, so having a non-binary format makes it simpler to email encrypted text. FTP may default to non-binary mode which will introduce errors when transferring a binary file. Even something as simple as popping open a file in an editor to make sure it "looks like it's there" is easier with non-binary formats.






          share|improve this answer













          Ciphertext can be output in binary format. For example, gpg defaults to binary format, and you need to specify --armor to make it base64:



          --armor
          -a
          Create ASCII armored output. The default is to create the binary OpenPGP format.


          The reason you see ASCII/base64 more often is that it is easier to transfer and manipulate than binary. SMTP email, for example, cannot handle binary data without encoding it, so having a non-binary format makes it simpler to email encrypted text. FTP may default to non-binary mode which will introduce errors when transferring a binary file. Even something as simple as popping open a file in an editor to make sure it "looks like it's there" is easier with non-binary formats.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 1 hour ago









          gowenfawrgowenfawr

          53.7k11114159




          53.7k11114159























              1














              A web browser has to print a visual representation of the binary data. The usual visual representation of binary data is the hexadecimal notation.



              Now observe: The space overhead of hex-encoded data is factor 2 (we need 2 ascii characters for one byte).
              The space overhead of base64-encoded data is only 1.33, making it more space-efficient than hex-encoded data.



              Moreover, I suspect that the tool support for base64-encoded data is at least as good as for hex-encoded data.



              For instance, you can copy-paste a base64-encoded ciphertext directly into a PEM file.






              share|improve this answer





























                1














                A web browser has to print a visual representation of the binary data. The usual visual representation of binary data is the hexadecimal notation.



                Now observe: The space overhead of hex-encoded data is factor 2 (we need 2 ascii characters for one byte).
                The space overhead of base64-encoded data is only 1.33, making it more space-efficient than hex-encoded data.



                Moreover, I suspect that the tool support for base64-encoded data is at least as good as for hex-encoded data.



                For instance, you can copy-paste a base64-encoded ciphertext directly into a PEM file.






                share|improve this answer



























                  1












                  1








                  1







                  A web browser has to print a visual representation of the binary data. The usual visual representation of binary data is the hexadecimal notation.



                  Now observe: The space overhead of hex-encoded data is factor 2 (we need 2 ascii characters for one byte).
                  The space overhead of base64-encoded data is only 1.33, making it more space-efficient than hex-encoded data.



                  Moreover, I suspect that the tool support for base64-encoded data is at least as good as for hex-encoded data.



                  For instance, you can copy-paste a base64-encoded ciphertext directly into a PEM file.






                  share|improve this answer















                  A web browser has to print a visual representation of the binary data. The usual visual representation of binary data is the hexadecimal notation.



                  Now observe: The space overhead of hex-encoded data is factor 2 (we need 2 ascii characters for one byte).
                  The space overhead of base64-encoded data is only 1.33, making it more space-efficient than hex-encoded data.



                  Moreover, I suspect that the tool support for base64-encoded data is at least as good as for hex-encoded data.



                  For instance, you can copy-paste a base64-encoded ciphertext directly into a PEM file.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 5 hours ago

























                  answered 5 hours ago









                  Mike76Mike76

                  15119




                  15119



























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