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. According to another embodiment, a system for decrypting information includes: means for receiving input data that includes error-correction code with missing elements and with errors, the missing elements being based on a key, the key already known on the receiving side of said transmission; and means for automatically decoding said input data based on the key to recover a message despite the errors.