I guess this would be a meditation, or maybe a question on theory, or...well, whatever, I knew that this would be the best place to come, so here it is.
What
exactly is the difference between
encoding and
encryption. I know that, for example, Crypt::Blowfish is encryption, where as MIME::Base64 is encoding, but I don't exactly see the difference! Don't both simply replace (well, maybe not simply, but in any case) one thing for another? Or is there something that I am missing here?
The reason I ask is because lately I have been reading much more about these things (such as Neal Stephensons
Cryptonomicon - awesome book) and I am really interested in cryptology and such - and of course, where better to go for the most knowledgable people on the web!
Thanks a bunch for the help!
r.
j
o
s
e
p
h
Violence is a last resort of the incompetent - Salvor Hardin,
Foundation by Issac Asimov
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