Cryptology Right Around the Corner

I was researching about cryptology online and I came upon a website that I thought was pretty cool. This website is for the National Cryptologic Museum. It only opened to the public in 1993 and has a vast majority of resources. It supports the National Security Agency and the Center Security Service. I attached the link below so you can check it out if you want. Let me know what you think! 

P.S. Professor Koss if you read this, it's only 2 hours away. We could take a field trip!

http://www.nsa.gov/index.shtml

Simplistic Codes

So today I read a post about how everyone speaks and writes in code everyday whether or not they know it and i started thinking about which ways we do that. When I was thinking about this I remembered an old code my best friend and I used to write secret notes to each other. I thought why not share it with everyone else. Below is the key, if anybody reads this try to encode a message using this key. You draw out each section of the grid you would like to use. Then if its the first letter you don't put any dot s. If it is the second letter, you put one dot in that grid section. If its the third letter, you put two dots.

abc	def	ghi
jkl	mno	pqr
stu	vwx	yz

When using this code you have to use the grid as well as the letters. To encrypt the letter r you would draw this:

. .

Cryptology Around Us

So I was curious as to how much cryptology was actually around this campus, so I looked up a few numbers. First, there are 13 book in our library at this very moment that pertain to cryptology. There are also 2 journals that are available when you search cryptology in journals. Within those journals there are thousands of articles. I thought this was interesting because even though these are only a few figures it helps to remind us that cryptology is everywhere. These numbers also don't include the numerous novels among other works of literature that touch on cryptology. If the catalog search included books that had any mention of cryptology, I am positive that the list would be long and overwhelming. Just thought this was an interesting aspect of cryptology that surrounds us.

The Unbreakable Code

After reading in The Code Book that there is in fact a breakable code but people don't use it, I started to think about  other unbreakable codes. In The Code Book, they do not use this code because the manufacturing and distributing would be difficult. However, I found a short article about Hyper-Encryption. I have attached the link to the article I found if anyone wants to read about a very short article about this code. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.cio.com/article/30849/Cryptologists_Continue_The_Quest_for_an_Unbreakable_Code

Definitions

Within class we constantly talk about cryptology and the different aspects of cryptology, however, this evening I became curious as to how others define such a complex topic. Here are just a few of the definitions that I came across:

The scientific study of cryptography and cryptanalysis.
The study of codes. The art of writing and solving them.
The study of mathematics, linguistics, and other coding patterns and histories.
The science or study of the techniques of secret writing, especially code or cipher systems, or the like.
The procedures, processes, methods, etc., of making and using secret writing, as codes or ciphers.

I thought it was interesting to hear others views of this definition, because to me cryptology can be anything pertaining to secrecy. All of the definitions seem to only focus on codes, where I believe these should incorporate the ideals of cryptology in the modern world. Simple examples such as ATM's, internet encryptions, among many others should be at least touched upon in these decisions.

Websites Definitions:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cryptology
http://www.definition-of.net/cryptology
http://www.allwords.com/word-cryptology.html

Cryptology in the World Today

Cryptology can be used in many different forms within the world today. Whether it is being used in an ATM, for the FBI, or a certain individual calling out for help, it is becoming increasingly useful. As the world progresses, these uses are becoming more and more diverse. However, today I chose to think about all the aspects that go into cryptology. Not only do those intertwined with this study have to be incredibly smart, but they also have to be discrete. When thinking about receiving messages and sending those involved must be sneaky. However, those who are attempting to intercept and decode messages must be even more sly when attempting these tasks. Mary Queen of Scotts is the perfect example of this. The spy's have to copy the messages and then reseal the messages so that their efforts go undetected. Another example of this is referenced in The Code Book. The black chambers have to tediously open, copy, and reseal an obscene amount of letters and decode them all. This all must happen without either the sender or the receiver of the message finding out. The two aspects I touched upon earlier are just a small portion of the overwhelming large number of talents that must be acquired before attempting such an intense occupation. In my eyes, I would never be up to par on such an array of talents to complete this job successfully. So I finish by thanking all those who are talented enough and work hard enough to decode those messages that protect our country and our well-being.

Cryptology Around the World

I recently read an article that expresses the intentions of a number of universities in London, as well as other universities in that area to further research in the area of cryptology. The University College of London, University of St. Andrews, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and London's City University will all be working together to explore how cryptology is used today. I found it intriguing that cryptology can be intertwined with the use of ATM's, garage doors, and conveying secret government messages. However, it can also be used for cyber crimes as well as terrorism. I am sure that it would make many cryptologists happy to know that there is still an interest in cryptology among young people in the world today. I am curious to what specifically these universities will discover and can't wait to read more about it!

The Cipher Disk

Within The Code Book, by Simon Singh, the concepts of polyalphabectic substitution ciphers are described. The opportunities that this cipher created for cryptographers were incredible. These ciphers were  safe from cryptanalysis and cryptanalysts for the time being, however, it was still a hassle to use such a complex method of substitution. The cipher disk created ease for those using this particular kind of substitution in a cipher. Below is a quotation from a movie that can be deciphered using the cipher disk. This is a quote from my favorite movie, so I hope you enjoy this activity. 

Hint: There are letters on the cipher disk that can take the identity of more than one letter if that letter does not appear on the outer disk. 

Index: M

gxlzrdcceeckagdsfsnyyf