DES (Data Encryption Standard)

The Data Encryption Standard (DES) is an early method of encrypting data to keep it secure. Developed in the 1970s, it uses a fixed key and a series of complex transformations to convert readable data (plaintext) into a scrambled format (ciphertext), making it unreadable without the corresponding key. Although it was widely used for many years, advances in computer technology made it vulnerable to attacks. Consequently, it has largely been replaced by more secure encryption methods, like AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), which offer stronger protection for sensitive information in today's digital world.