Abstract: Systems and methods for jointly performing encryption and error-correction coding offer advantages, especially in the presence of noise. According to one embodiment, a method for encryption and transmission of information includes: inserting at least one encryption key element into source data elements that are to be communicated, yielding an extended information sequence; encoding the extended information sequence using an error-correcting code, yielding an extended codeword; removing at least one element of the extended codeword, leaving a punctured extended codeword; and transmitting the punctured extended codeword across a medium.