Provided is a data-coding apparatus that includes: a data-input line for receiving input data; a data scrambler having light sources coupled to the data-input line and modulated in accordance with the input data, and light sensors that receive light from the light sources; and at least one light-sensing processor coupled to the light sources and configured so as to selectively isolate light signals received from individual ones of the light sources based on at least one control signal input into such data scrambler. The light-sensing processor is dynamically controlled by the control signal(s) so as to rearrange words within the input data according to patterns that change in real time.