Virginia legal term
Encrypted in Virginia Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session
In Virginia criminal law, “Encrypted” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Virginia criminal code.
What does “Encrypted” mean in Virginia criminal law?
"Encrypted" means the transformation of data through the use of an algorithmic process into a form in which there is a low probability of assigning meaning without the use of a confidential process or key, or the securing of the information by another method that renders the data elements unreadable or unusable. (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-186.6)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.