ROT-13

See also: Cryptography

ROT-13 = Rotate 13

A very simple method of Obfuscation still used to make unreadable simple documents, used during the time of Julius Caesar. Involves rotating characters in the alphabet 13 forward.

For instance:
Na VasbNanepul bs gbzbeebj – gbqnl! equals: An InfoAnarchy of tomorrow – today!

The only real uses of this system nowadays are to prevent your little sister (if she’s 7) from reading your e-mail and to encode spoilers, offensive jokes or otherwise potentially objectionable content on Usenet, as many newsreaders provide automated ROT-13 encryption-decryption. Any cryptographer would identify this system within a minute as well as any intelligent or dedicated person. It is listed here as an illustration of how far encryption has come.

Links

TakeDown.NET -> “ROT-13