I know there are a lot of encryption programs available, that I would guess use different methods for encryption, and thus have different types of output files (.fve .tc .cha .dmg (bitlocker, truecrypt, challenger, ect.)), but if someone didn't know what the file was and just looked at the data, what would it look like? Does it just look like random bits, or can you still pick out a pattern? If it does look random, how is it if I moved the encrypted file to another computer, the other computer can tell it's a file, and is able to decrypt it (how would it even know where to start or stop, if it all looked random)? Also, how is the structure affected by encrypting files twice, using the same method, or a different one?
Thanks for any help, and if you know any books or site about encryption for complete idiots, I'd appreciate it!
What do encrypted files’ data look like
bitlockerencryptiontruecrypt
Best Answer
A well encrypted file (or data) looks like random data, there is no discernibly pattern.
When you give an encrypted file to a decryption program (DCP) it tries to decrypt a small portion of the file. This part contains meta information for the DCP.
If the DCP succeeds in reading that decrypted portion of the file you have the correct DCP and password, then the DCP continues to decrypt the entire file. If the DCP fails you either have the wrong password OR are using the wrong decryption method. If this happens there is no way to know witch went wrong.
Note.
This does not apply to some encryption applications most notably those that are archive applications. Two examples ate
zipandrarwitch have an outer container that will allow you to detect what application was used to create them