Known-Plaintext Attack (KPA)

A cryptographic attack where an attacker uses known plaintext to decipher encrypted data.

Understanding:

A KPA is a cryptographic attack where an attacker has access to both plaintext and corresponding ciphertext, allowing them to infer encryption keys or attack the algorithm.

Common Applications and Use Cases:

Breaking Weak Encryption Algorithms – Older encryption standards like DES are vulnerable.
Cryptanalysis & Intelligence Gathering – Used by cybersecurity researchers and hackers.
Password Cracking – Attackers use KPAs to guess hashed passwords.

Best Practices and Security Considerations:

Use Strong Encryption (AES, ECC, RSA-4096) – Prevents key inference.
Avoid Using the Same Key for Multiple Encryptions – Reduces attack feasibility.
Implement Padding & Salting Techniques – Defends against KPAs.