In the encryption/decryption method, a random number sequence {r.sub.i} is
generated on the basis of a given multiple-affine key system K and
encryption is performed by an exclusive OR of the random number sequence
{r.sub.i} with a plain text. Further, the multiple-affine key system K is
automatically sequentially rewritten into a series of new multiple-affine
key systems each time when the number of use times of the multiple-affine
key system reaches a predetermined number and encryption of plain texts
thereafter is continued while generating random numbers using the series
of the rewritten multiple-affine key systems. Likewise, in decryption as
well, since decryption is performed using a multiple-affine key system
automatically rewritten each time when the number of use times reaches a
predetermined number, a third party cannot reproduce the multiple-affine
key system and therefore cannot decipher a cipher text.