What is the definition of cleartext in cybersecurity?

Cleartext refers to data that is not encrypted, meaning it is in a readable format that can be understood without any special decryption or translation process. This type of data can be easily accessed and interpreted by anyone who has access to it, making it particularly vulnerable to unauthorized access and interception.

In cybersecurity, understanding the concept of cleartext is crucial, as it highlights the importance of encryption and secure communication methods to protect sensitive information. Unlike encrypted data, which requires a key or password to be decrypted and accessed, cleartext data is openly available, potentially exposing it to risks such as eavesdropping or data breaches.

The other options relate to concepts in cybersecurity but do not accurately define cleartext. Encrypted data, for instance, is specifically designed to protect information, while data stored in a secure environment may or may not be encrypted. Data that is subject to unauthorized access could encompass both encrypted and unencrypted data, but it does not precisely capture the definition of cleartext.