What is the characteristic of unencrypted data?

Unencrypted data fundamentally lacks any security measures to protect its contents. This means that when such data is transmitted over networks, it is sent in a clear text format that can be easily intercepted and read by anyone who has access to those communications. Without encryption, there are no safeguards to ensure privacy or confidentiality, making it vulnerable to unauthorized access.

This characteristic highlights the importance of encryption in protecting sensitive information, particularly when it is being transferred across potentially insecure channels such as the internet. Keeping data encrypted while transmitting helps ensure that only intended recipients, who possess the appropriate decryption keys, can access the information securely.

The other options imply some level of restriction or protection on the data: unencrypted data is not restricted from access and does not possess a secret code or limited visibility while stored. The absence of these protective measures underscores the inherent risk of transmitting unencrypted data.