A
cipher system where a
mechanical machine is used to
encrypt plaintext into
ciphertext. The machine mechanically implements the
encryption algorithm. This was a major step in
cryptography. More complex
encryption algorithms could be used without the users needing to know the details of how the
plaintext was scrambled or how it is unscrambled. It also sped up the process of
encryption and
decryption. These systems were a result of the
Industrial Revolution. One example is the
enigma machines used by
Germany in
World War II.
See also: pencil and paper cipher system/classical cipher system and computerized cipher system.