Basics of Polymorphism in Encryption
Albert H. Carlson, Mandeep Singh, Benjamin Williams · 2025
Polymorphic encryption algorithms have been known and received limited use since the 1880s. Although used by the USSR for a period ranging from the late 1930s to the mid-1980s, polymorphic, or "mutating" ciphers are relatively unknown outside of those who have previously used this type of encryption. Often confused with homomorphic encryption, polymorphic encryption is easily identified and has recently been shown to be very effective in securing messages. This paper presents an introduction into polymorphic ciphers and how to recognize them, as well as what is needed to implement a polymorphic encryption engine and polymorphic RNG.