Required for AES-256 encryption. Keep your password safe — lost passwords cannot be recovered.
AES vs Base64 vs ROT13
AES-256 is true encryption with password protection. Only someone with the correct password can decrypt the data. Use this for sensitive information.
Base64 is encoding, not encryption. Anyone can decode Base64 without a password. It only converts data format, providing zero security.
ROT13 and Caesar Cipher are simple letter substitutions. They are trivial to reverse and should only be used for learning or obfuscation, not security.
Which Methods Are Actually Secure
- ✓ AES-256: Secure for passwords, private messages, and sensitive data
- ✗ Base64: NOT secure — anyone can decode
- ✗ Caesar/ROT13: NOT secure — trivial to reverse
- ✗ Reverse: NOT secure — trivial to reverse
When to Use Encryption vs Encoding
Use AES-256 encryption when:
- Protecting passwords or API keys
- Sending private messages
- Storing sensitive data
Use Base64 encoding when:
- Embedding binary data in text formats (JSON, XML)
- Creating data URIs for images
- Transmitting data through text-only channels
Common Text Encryption Mistakes
- Using Base64 to "encrypt" passwords (it's just encoding)
- Using weak or short passwords for AES encryption
- Losing the AES password with no recovery option
- Assuming ROT13 or Caesar cipher provides real security
- Sharing encrypted text without sharing the password securely