Diffusion and confusion shannon Diffusion. The relationship between the statistics of the plaintext and the ciphertext is as complex as possible the value of each plaintext bit affects many ciphertext bits Confusion: the relationship between the statistics of the plaintext and the value of the key is as complex as possible7 Diffusion and Confusion -- Shannon • Diffusion. The relationship between the statistics of the plaintext and the ciphertext is as complex as possible: the value of each plaintext bit affects many ciphertext bits. • Confusion: the relationship between the statistics of the plaintext and the value of the key is as complex as possible