Original, unencrypted information is referred to as ____.

The term "plaintext" refers to original, unencrypted information. In the context of encryption, plaintext is the readable data that has not yet been subjected to an encryption algorithm. This is crucial in understanding how encryption works, as the primary purpose of encryption is to protect this data by transforming it into a form known as ciphertext, which is not easily readable without the correct decryption key.

Other options like "text" may sound valid but lack the specific meaning attributed to "plaintext" in the realm of cryptography. "Cleantext" is not a standard term used in encryption or data security discourse, and "ciphertext" refers to the encrypted output of the encryption process, which is fundamentally different from the original plaintext. Therefore, recognizing "plaintext" is essential for grasping the fundamental concepts in encryption techniques and data protection methodologies.