What is Cipher Text?

Cipher text refers to data that has been transformed into a format that is not easily readable or understandable without the appropriate decryption key. The purpose of encrypting data is to protect it from unauthorized access, ensuring that only individuals or systems with the correct key can interpret the information. This makes cipher text a fundamental concept in encryption and cybersecurity, as it secures sensitive data against potential threats and breaches.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe cipher text. Data stored in plain view represents information that is easily accessible and unprotected, while backup data refers to copies of data stored for recovery purposes, often in a secure manner but not necessarily encrypted. Finally, data that has been deleted permanently is no longer accessible or recoverable in its original form and has no relation to the concept of encrypting or transforming data through cryptography.