Encryption Tool Query - Same Input, Different Outputs

Hey All,

I am hoping someone can help me, I seem to recall stumbling along a
resource which was able to use to achieve this result, but I lost that
link...

Anyway...

I am looking for an Encryption methodology, whereby I can encrypt a
string (or content) in such a way that the results it returns can be
different from each other, but when decrypted (using a single key/
method) the original string is returned.

Not explaining it very well, am I?

So, an example:
"the_string" >[ENCRYPT]> "stygtehitu"
"the_string" >[ENCRYPT]> "puysnyurwe"

"stygtehitu" >[DECRYPT]> "the_string"
"puysnyurwe" >[DECRYPT]> "the_string"

Where the Encrypt and Decrypt functions are passed the exact same key
in all four instances.

I am not sure if this is possible, but if anyone has an inkling about
what I am looking for, I'd appreciate some assistance.

Thanks
Luke

Lucanos <lucanos@gmail.com> wrote in news:1186730099.875537.68860
@q3g2000prf.googlegroups.com:

> I am looking for an Encryption methodology, whereby I can encrypt a
> string (or content) in such a way that the results it returns can be
> different from each other, but when decrypted (using a single key/
> method) the original string is returned.

The standard way of achieving this is with a "salt" which is typically a
random number (but needn't be - a timestamp, for instance, would also work)

The salt is used either as a prefix or suffix to "the_string" and the
combined salt plus string is encrypted. With different salts the same
string will result in a different encrypted message.

On decryption the salt is, of course, discarded and only "the_string" is
considered.

Regards,