Questions tagged [classical-cipher]
Ciphers invented before the era of computers and modern cryptographic theory. Classical ciphers typically operate on letters instead of bits and are usually designed to be implemented by hand or using simple mechanical devices.
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Does anyone have any hard ciphers to be cracked for fun?
The title says it all. Do you have any ciphers or encoded messages that you could post as a brainteaser?
Thanks!
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How to determine which type of transposition cipher I have?
I have some ciphertext that I have determined using frequency analysis to be most likely encrypted using a transposition cipher, as the letter frequencies are similar to plain English language text. I ...
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1answer
70 views
Tranposition Ciphers
I am studying classical ciphers and have the following doubts:
Is the row and columnar transposition cipher the same?
It is similar since the process of encryption and decryption is the same for ...
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1answer
50 views
How to go about decrypting a cipher with known input and output? [closed]
I have a known input and a known output but how would I go about working out what the cipher was used. Below are a few examples of input and output.
On the last one I noticed a repeating pattern. ...
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How can I break a Vigenère cipher with partial plain key? [closed]
I've got the cypher text: cöimamiçknsyznhaczstş and a partial plain key: ?ğre??i
I've used "?" instead of unknown ...
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What does the normalizing coefficient do in the Index of Coincidence?
In school we only learned the formula without the normalizing coefficient:
But Wikipedia has one that says:
I am using IC in a cryptography class to find the key length and am checking various key ...
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What is the formal name for determining the key to a Vigenere cipher using frequency analysis once the key length has been found?
In short, I am writing a paper about cracking the Vigenere cipher. There are supposed to be three parts to it and each is supposed to be related to an academic article (or anything formal). I chose ...
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20 views
Index of Coincidence Averages List
I am looking for a comprehensive list of the IOC values of any or all classical ciphers. I can't find a list, only pieces. Each cipher has an average IOC value, and I was wondering if there was a ...
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1answer
54 views
LAT of an SBox, values are even
This is probably a silly question, but I could not find any reference. For the DDT of an SBox, it is easy to see why all the values are even. Is there any related result for LAT (i.e., all its values ...
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Which is the simplest cryptographic algorithm which is close to commercial-level security?
An algorithm is simpler than another if
It is easier to explain to a noob with basic high-school math knowledge.
It is easier to securely self-implement by an intermediate programmer (Yes I know one ...
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Is there a name for strong human-computable encryption schemes? Are there definitions for “human-computable”?
Background:
There is some interest in encryption schemes meant for humans to perform without computational aid. (Relevant questions here, here, and here.) People often cite the VIC pen-and-paper ...
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How do you determine the recorded value of a cipher when using the shift key?
I am taking a cryptography class and having a hard time understanding how to utilize Ceasar Cipher and how to determine the shift key values. Is it based on many characters are in the cipher or is it ...
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Can someone help me understand this?
In the book Serious Cryptography
It says for a cipher's permutation to be secure
"Different keys should result in different permutations. Otherwise it becomes easier to decrypt without the key: ...
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1answer
79 views
How to decrypt a short ciphertext that is said to be immune to attacks?
I need to decrypt a ciphertext which is short, and I have the first word of the plaintext. I thought of doing a probable-word attack, but I already know the position of the known word.
In addition, ...
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40 views
Packing technique for large data storage
Packing multiple plaintext messages into a single ciphertext block is known to increase the effeciency of homomorphic encryption. Can someone let me know if this technique can support large data ? For ...
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Substitution cipher with variable key
Given that one of the main disadvantages of a polyalphabetic substitution cipher like Vigenere is that the key length can be determined by comparing the frequency distributions to the plaintext ...
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569 views
How to decipher an ADFGVX cipher?
I got introduced to the ADFGVX cipher, and it seems very tedious to decipher such ciphertexts. If I do not have access to the key square and the keyword, and I am just given the ciphertext and a ...
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1answer
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Why was it easier to decode messages that you had several copies of?
During WW1 the German ambassador in Washington, von Bernstorff, blamed their numerous transmissions of the same messages as the cause for the successful decoding done by the British. I don't see the ...
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2answers
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How were codes in WW1 reciphered (to enhance security levels) without them turning meaningless?
In WW1 the Germans made their communicating secret by encoding their messages. This meant that the sender of the message would have a codebook with all possible words and phrases he might use listed ...
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Hill cipher. Any way around the not invertible matrices [duplicate]
Question: The plaintext JULY is encrypted using Hill Cipher with m = 2, to give the ciphertext DELW, then determine the encryption and decryption matrix
My approach: We will form a 2x2 matrix of ...
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2answers
205 views
Prove monoalphabetic cipher is a valid symmetric cipher
I should prove mathematically that:
$D_k(E_k(p))=p$
I know
$E_k(p)=c=(p+k)\bmod26$
and
$D_k(c)=p=(c-k)\bmod26$
Substituting the two formulas to the initial assertion I have
$((p+k)\bmod26-k)\...
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How to find/determine the Polybius Square Key and Additive Key, if only the Cipher Text is known, in Nihilist Cipher?
I was solving a Crypto Challenge in a CTF, and I got a Nihilist Cipher Encoded String. Luckily the additive key was given as a hint, and for the polybius Square key, I kinda bruteforced or I just got ...
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1answer
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How to make this cipher strong?
Suppose I have an arbitrary 256 bit number $m$ another secret number $k$ of the same bit length, and then I multiply them both modulo a 256 bit prime number $p$ to get $c$ as follows:
$$
c = (m\cdot k)...
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Classic cipher method [closed]
I am struggling with these two cipher texts, I cannot identify which king of cipher was used.
First:
otnpeetrnneepeufofutisrtrllohcdmetoeheeatyngonrmrm
And second:
...
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1answer
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Running Key Gibbs Sampling
I am trying to implement the algorithm described in this paper. It uses blocked Gibbs sampling to perform a ciphertext-only attack on text encrypted with a running key cipher. However, I am confused ...
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Is it possible to crack the trifid cipher without the keyword?
I was learning about the classical ciphers and was looking up the methods to break them without the keywords and when I searched up "cryptanalysis of the trifid cipher" I couldn't find anything. I ...
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Concatenating “words,” is it possible to create a key that is indistinguishable from one made in a truly random manner?
By concatenating "words" and adding them Modulo 26, can we create a key that cannot be distinguished from one that was generated in a truly random manner?
For example, let's say we use three ...
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3answers
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How can frequency analysis be applied to modern ciphers?
I am building a computer program that deciphers Caesar, Vigenere and monoalphabetic substitution ciphers. All of those are susceptible to frequency analysis. However, it does not seem to be real-world ...
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What is the strength of this machine? [closed]
This machine has the stator, with one half of the alphabet, and three rotors with replications of the other half in different order and repeated twice. There can have two rotors in use or the full ...
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2answers
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Is there a way to easily encode a message without a computer on either end?
I enjoy making notes and passing them to my friends, and I also like making them encrypted for no reason. My friends enjoy it too, but it's a bit annoying to use the Caesar cipher for everything ...
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1answer
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In cryptography, what is “fractionation”?
I understand how fractionation is used in the straddling keyboard, which is an important feature of the VIC Cipher, and in the Polybius Square of the ADFGVX cipher, but I am not sure how to describe ...
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Can frequency attack be successful on Vigenère cipher?
Here is my question when learning Vigenère cipher, can we perform frequency analysis attack toward this cipher?
My first impression is no, because each column of its matrix has exactly 26 English ...
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1answer
120 views
Is there a cipher that avoids double bigrams?
Are there any known ciphers that whose ciphertext (given any plaintext) avoids bigrams of the form "aa, bb, cc, etc."?
What about known ciphers that make bigrams of form "aa, bb, cc, etc." rare ...
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1answer
207 views
Applications of machine learning in classical ciphers?
Machine learning is definitely applicable in analyzing simple shift ciphers like Caesar and affine ciphers, as well as substitution ciphers like Vigenère, but is it possible for machine learning to ...
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3answers
289 views
Most secure but feasible encryption running on WWII technology
Imagine you are transported back to ~1940. What is the best (i.e. most secure, but technologically feasible) encryption you can think of for widespread (i.e. military) use? How would you implement it?
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About LFSR based M209 Cipher Machine
Can some one please express M209 Cipher Machine in terms of LFSR with Diagram or any simple method?
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1answer
196 views
Pen and Paper Authentication
What is the best way to prove that you wrote the encrypted message on a piece of paper? As most of us know, many conspirators have died because of false message implants, Mary Queen of Scots, for ...
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1answer
384 views
How can the Enigma's plugboard settings be found with partially known plaintext?
I don't quite understand the procedure described on wikipedia, is there a generalized procedure you can follow to rule out a pairing on the plugboard?
For example, let's say the cipher text is
...
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2answers
553 views
Was the Enigma's double stepping mechanism intentional?
It's sometimes refered to as the double stepping anomaly, so was it just a design flaw or was it put in place deliberately?
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1answer
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Enigma rotation example
According to wikipedia: BDZGO is the expected outcome when doing the enigma chipher on the letters AAAAA with rotors I,II,III and reflector B.
...
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1answer
398 views
Ciphers based on Keywords
I am looking for different ciphers that use a key word (like "hello" or "awesome") to encrypt a given text. I know about the Keyword Cipher already; I'm looking for others.
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Strong and Practical Hand Ciphers [duplicate]
I know monoalphabetic ciphers are weak, but my message recipient doesn't like taking the time for the decryption process. I've tried Vigenere, Gronsfeld, Beaufort and Digraphic Ciphers, but he doesn't ...
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1answer
708 views
Shuffling alphabet cipher [closed]
Disclaimer: this is actually a coding challenge therefore I am expressly not looking for complete solutions.
The way the cipher works is as follows:
Start with ...
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155 views
Crack a polyalphabetic cipher given a pair of (plaintext, ciphertext) encrypted by it
The original question only states that a classical cipher is used, and I am going to articulate 1) why I think a polyalphabetic substitution cipher is used AND 2) my attempts so far.
The Question
<...
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Method for Cryptanalysis of a keyword-keyletter cipher?
I am a CS student who is in an introductory Cryptography course. I am not looking for the complete plaintext of this message, as I am not looking to cheat. I am simply stuck, and have no idea what to ...
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1answer
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Codes of “SAS und Chiffrierdienst”
The german site "SAS und Chiffrierdienst der DDR"
http://scz.bplaced.net
has some interesting content under point 11.3 in the category "manuelle Verfahren" I found ciphers named from A to D. But I ...
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Is there a way to make a non-specific algorithm to decypher substitutions with “anti-frequency analysis” measures?
There's a code I'm trying to decipher. What I know is that it's a simple substitution, with just a few added rules intended to make frequency analysis and other very common methods a little less ...
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Does the Richard Sorge cipher still provide good security?
Is the cipher used by soviet spy Richard Sorge still sufficiently secure nowadays?
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How secure is a book derived key and what can be done to strenghten it? [duplicate]
If you have a manual encryption system where the keying is done by extracting a key from a book, a major weakness is that an adversary can search trough all existing books to find a perfect Match and ...
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2answers
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How was the 5 digit random number in the VIC cipher generated?
Knowing that VIC was a "spy cipher" it is unlikely that the agents used a cryptographic device to genreate the 5 digit number but how did they do it?
