If you are a user of Windows 10 or a gamer of Destiny 2, you might have encountered a message saying “Access Denied: Cipher Required” when trying to access certain files or locations. What does this message mean and how can you fix it? In this article, we will explain the possible causes and solutions for this error.
What is a Cipher and Why is it Required?
A cipher is a method of encrypting or decrypting data using a secret key or algorithm. Encryption is the process of transforming data into an unreadable form, while decryption is the reverse process of restoring the original data from the encrypted form. Encryption and decryption are used to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data, especially when it is transmitted over a network or stored on a device.
Some files or locations may require a specific cipher to be accessed, either for security reasons or for game mechanics. For example, in Windows 10, some system files or folders may be encrypted using the Encrypting File System (EFS), which is a feature that allows users to encrypt files or folders on NTFS volumes. EFS uses a public key cryptography system, which means that each user has a pair of keys: a public key and a private key. The public key is used to encrypt the data, while the private key is used to decrypt it. Only the user who has the private key can access the encrypted data.
In Destiny 2, a popular online multiplayer shooter game, some locations may require a cipher to be accessed as part of the game’s story or quests. For example, in the K1 Logistics lost sector on the Moon, there is a door that says “Access Denied: Cipher Required”. This door is related to a quest for obtaining a new exotic weapon called Revision Zero, which is a Hakke-based fusion rifle. To access the door, the player needs to obtain a cipher from a specific enemy or activity, and then use it to unlock the door.
How to Fix the Access Denied Cipher Required Error?
Depending on the cause of the error, there are different ways to fix it. Here are some possible solutions:
- If you are trying to access an encrypted file or folder on Windows 10, you need to have the private key or the certificate that matches the public key used to encrypt the data. You can check if you have the private key by right-clicking on the file or folder, selecting Properties, clicking on the Advanced button, and then clicking on the Details button. If you see a message saying “You have a private key that corresponds to this certificate”, then you have the private key. If not, you need to find the certificate that has the private key, or contact the person who encrypted the data and ask them to decrypt it or share the key with you. You can also try to use the cipher command in the Command Prompt to manage the encryption or decryption of files or folders. To use the cipher command, you need to run the Command Prompt as an administrator, and then type cipher followed by the options and parameters you want to use. For example, to decrypt a file or folder, you can type cipher /d followed by the path of the file or folder. For more information on how to use the cipher command, you can type cipher /? in the Command Prompt or visit the Microsoft website.
- If you are trying to access a location in Destiny 2 that requires a cipher, you need to find the cipher from the game’s activities or enemies. For example, to access the door in the K1 Logistics lost sector, you need to obtain a cipher from a specific enemy called a Barrier Servitor, which spawns in the Exodus Garden 2A lost sector on the Cosmodrome. To find the Barrier Servitor, you need to activate the Heroic difficulty of the lost sector, which requires a power level of at least 1250. Once you find and defeat the Barrier Servitor, you will receive a cipher that you can use to unlock the door in the K1 Logistics lost sector. For more information on how to obtain the Revision Zero exotic weapon and the ciphers required for it, you can visit the Destiny 2 subreddit or the Destiny 2 wiki.