Recommended books about cipher

Most people, acquainted with cryptology either through sensational cloak and dagger stories or through newspaper cryptograms, are not aware that many aspects of this art may be treated systematically, by means of some elementary mathematical concepts and methods. In this introduction, Professor Sinkov explains some of the fundamental techniques at the basis of cryptanalytic endeavor from which much more sophisticated techniques have evolved, especially since the advent of computers. The mathematical topics relevant in these discussions include modular arithmetic, a little number theory, some linear algebra of two dimensions with matrices, some combinatorics, and a little statistics. Also included are programs in BASIC developed by Paul Irwin for use in his course based on this book.

This book may have first been published back in 1966 (a fact apparent to many of today's younger readers who are completely baffled as to why such a text doesn't have an accompanying CD), yet it stands out as a classic in the field. I actually use selections from this book with middle school mathematics students in my extracurricular Cryptanalysis Club... and yes, they MUST learn the skill of breaking Viegenere Ciphers by brute force before they may use any of the free online algorithms they always seem to "accidentally" discover using intentionally specific keywords in search engines ("...but, Sir, it's not 1966 anymore...")

Sinkov's book was originally targetted at well prepared high school students. It covers the basic theory of substitution and transposition ciphers, and the tools of cryptographic analysis.

It is sad that the author was not free at the time he wrote the book to explain his own critical contributions to cryptography and the impact on the course of World War II.

This book is truly a classic in basic cryptanalysis, still one of the best introductions to cryptography available forty years after it was first published. I am currently teaching a course in encryption and data compression and read it
to see if I could find any new ideas. In preparation for the course, I had looked over several potential textbooks for the encryption section, so thought I had all of the basics down. Therefore, I really didn't expect to find anything new in this book.
That expectation was incorrect, I found three additional ideas that I will incorporate into my course. The ideas are easy to understand, yet effective in complicating the writing of computer programs to decrypt messages. Since a great deal of the activities in the class is writing programs, this will increase the amount of fun I will have in challenging the thought processes and coding skills of the students.
If you are interested in learning the basics of encryption and decryption, this book is one of the very best places to start.

Interesting read, the book having being written before the computer revolution is very apparent to this younger reader. But it still seems very relevant. Was good back ground for getting into the field.

Dr. Sinkov has been-there, done-that. He was in the first group of three mathematicians hired by William Friedman of the Army's Signal Intelligence Service (SIS) back in 1930. After two name changes, the agency became the NSA, and Sinkov became the Chief of Communications Security, and later, Deputy Director for Production. Using only high school math, the good doctor takes us on a tour of cryptanalysis that is remarkable for it's clarity and completeness. If you don't start with Sinkov's book, you're doing it the hard way.

Alan Turing was one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. In 1935, aged 22, he developed the mathematical theory upon which all subsequent stored-program digital computers are modeled.
At the outbreak of hostilities with Germany in September 1939, he joined the Government Codebreaking team at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire and played a crucial role in deciphering Engima, the code used by the German armed forces to protect their radio communications. Turing's work on the version of Enigma used by the German navy was vital to the battle for supremacy in the North Atlantic. He also contributed to the attack on the cyphers known as "Fish," which were used by the German High Command for the encryption of signals during the latter part of the war. His contribution helped to shorten the war in Europe by an estimated two years.
After the war, his theoretical work led to the development of Britain's first computers at the National Physical Laboratory and the Royal Society Computing Machine Laboratory at Manchester University.
Turing was also a founding father of modern cognitive science, theorizing that the cortex at birth is an "unorganized machine" which through "training" becomes organized "into a universal machine or something like it." He went on to develop the use of computers to model biological growth, launching the discipline now referred to as Artificial Life.
The papers in this book are the key works for understanding Turing's phenomenal contribution across all these fields. The collection includes Turing's declassified wartime "Treatise on the Enigma"; letters from Turing to Churchill and to codebreakers; lectures, papers, and broadcasts which opened up the concept of AI and its implications; and the paper which formed the genesis of the investigation of Artifical Life.

Enjoy this profound book by the father of the Digital Age. The Essential Turing is an excellent edition and long overdue. Turing's essential works are finally available in a single volume. Turing is one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century--he was rated up there with Einstein in Time magazine's 'The Century's Greatest Minds'. Copeland's lucid commentaries on Turing's work are fascinating and helpful. OUP is to be congratulated on putting Turing into the hands of the popular science book-buyer at long last.

A long overdue book. Copeland collects together Turing's greatest papers. As in where Turing tackled the fundamentals of what is now called a Turing machine - ie. a universal computer. Plus other papers where Turing ruminated on artificial intelligence, and founded that field. Plus coming up with the Turing Test for AI.

Turing's papers are interleaved with chapters by Copeland that give extra context to the times in which Turing lived. Notably on Turing's crucial contribution to the Enigma project at Bletchley Park during World War 2. It is no exaggeration to say that his insight into decoding the German encryptions saved the lives of thousands of Allied soldiers.

Valuable also is a reprinting of Turing's "Treatise on the Enigma", which was only declassified in 1996. Though by then, its essence had been known for decades. Finally, the book lets you read Turing's words on Enigma.

This is a terrific book. Turing is one of the most important figures of our time. Copeland's lucid and helpful introductions to Turing's key works make fascinating reading. (The hundreds of footnotes are testimony to the depth of scholarship that underlies Copeland's smooth prose.) Copeland makes Turing, and so the origins of the digital age, accessible to all.

Copeland's "Essential Turing" reviews Turning's major writings and is a valuable source of knowledge for computer scientists and avid CS/Mathematics readers alike. Turing was a brilliant British mathematician, logician, and cryptographer and is widely considered to be the father of computer science. This book doesn't portray him merely as a code breaker but also provides commentary on his brilliant foundation work as on Artificial intelligence. Discussion on the ultimate Turing test (proposal for a test of a machine's capability to perform human-like conversation) and Entscheidungs Problem is worth reading.

I shelve this book next to Knuth's "The Art of Computer Programming" which may state what it's worth.

Copeland's book is basically a collection of some of Turing's original papers, completed with a short introduction for each part of the book. I was disappointed by this book as (1) one can easily find copies of Turing's work on the web, (2) there is very little additional value in Copeland's comments, and (3) the papers are not reproduced in their original typeset and layout. Elsevier's "Collected Works of A. M. Turing" (4 volumes) does a much better job and offers Turing's complete work.

The American ENIAC is customarily regarded as having been the starting point of electronic computation. This book rewrites the history of computer science, arguing that in reality Colossus--the giant computer built by the British secret service during World War II--predates ENIAC by two years. Colossus was built during the Second World War at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. Until very recently, much about the Colossus machine was shrouded in secrecy, largely because the code-breaking algorithms that were employed during World War II remained in use by the British security services until a short time ago. In addition, the United States has recently declassified a considerable volume of wartime documents relating to Colossus. Jack Copeland has brought together memoirs of veterans of Bletchley Park--the top-secret headquarters of Britain's secret service--and others who draw on the wealth of declassified information to illuminate the crucial role Colossus played during World War II. Included here are pieces by the former WRENS who actually worked the machine, the scientist who pioneered the use of vacuum tubes in data processing, and leading authorities on code-breaking and computer science.
A must read for anyone curious about code-breaking or World War II espionage, Colossus offers a fascinating insider's account of the world first giant computer, the great great grandfather of the massive computers used today by the CIA and the National Security Agency.

What if I told you that a secret project conducted more than 60 years ago held the true origins of the modern computing era? And that the country behind this project did such a good job erasing its tracks that it did itself a disservice? And that many of the things invented during this project would only be realized with modern-day PCs?

This book is a wonderful collection of first-person accounts and you get to see the enormity of the task and exactly how critical this effort was towards winning the war. If you got excited about crypto stuff in the DaVinci Code then you will have lots of hours of fun trying to work through the examples the authors provide.

This provides a good general history of the breaking of the German Lorenz and (to a lesser extent) Siemens cipher teletypes, focusing mostly on the British methods using the Heath Robinson and Colossus tabulating machines driven by punched tapes. The breaking of these differed from the breaking of the Enigma machines in that the methods were probabilistic and statistical rather than the logical operations of the Turing and Welchman electromechanical Bombes, so that the mathematics (relegated to appendices) are very different. The appendices include the Swedish mathematician Arne Burling's breaking of the Siemens machine on leased cables from Norway through Sweden.

For understanding the mathematics, I prefer Harvey Cragon's "From Fish to Colossus" or Frank Carter's pamphlets sold by Bletchley Park, which seem to be currently unavailable, and Cragon includes descriptions (and schematics) of much of the circuitry of the Colossi. It is interesting to read in Copeland's book descriptions by many of those who actually made the breakthroughs.

This book is a copendium of histories from the people who were at Bletchley Park who actually did the code breaking. I found their stories facinating. There is also some moderately technical information that describes how the several code breaking machines worked. This is the first description that I have seen of the effort to break the codes associated with the German teletytpe system. I found the book facinating.

The story of the Bletchley Park code breaking efforts towards the German Enigma machine are well known. (If you are not familar the best book on the Enigma is:The German Enigma Cipher Machine: Beginnings, Success, and Ultimate Failure - ISBN 1-58053-996-3) Down through the years there have been only casual references to the Colossus machine that was used on the more sophisticated German coding machines.

At last enough material has been declassified to enable the story to be told. Dr. Copeland, Director of the Turing Archive for the History of Computing and author of some very good books on Alan Turing, has collected an amazing amount of information on Colossus. This has come from various sources, primarily in the form of short essays written by people who worked on or with Colossus during ther war.

This is an important book covering not only a little explored aspect of World War II but also an important step in the development of electronic computers. It also talks about how Colossus was held secret for so long that the important developments which it entailed might have helped Britain retain greater prosperity after the war.

An excellent, ground breaking book, highly recommended.

The book is designed to be accessible to motivated IT professionals who want to learn more about the specific attacks covered. In particular, every effort has been made to keep the chapters independent, so if someone is interested in has function cryptanalysis or RSA timing attacks, they do not necessarily need to study all of the previous material in the text. This would be particularly valuable to working professionals who might want to use the book as a way to quickly gain some depth on one specific topic.

A fascinating work on the history and development of cryptography, from the Egyptians to WWII. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork Contents Include - The Beginings of Cryptography - From the Middle Ages Onwards - Signals , Signs , And Secret Languages - Commercial Codes - Military Codes and Ciphers - Types of Codes and Ciphers - Methods of Deciphering - Bibliography

Algebraic Cryptanalysis is a guide for advanced-level students and researchers/practitioners entering this new field. This text bridges the gap between a course in cryptography, and being able to read the cryptanalytic literature. Algebraic Cryptanalysis also covers several chapters on finite field linear algebra and the equicomplexity of matrix operations.

This volume introduces several techniques, including linear systems of equations over finite fields, polynomial systems, along with how to adapt the latter to be solved by SAT-solvers. The cipher Keeloq, used in nearly all automobiles with remote key-less entry, is described as a running example, including the manipulation of the equations to enable their solution.

Designed for advanced-level students in computer science and mathematics as a secondary text or reference book. Also suitable for practitioners working for intelligence agencies or security companies. Of special interest to algebraic geometers interested in seeking more applied topics.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 11th International Workshop on Fast Software Encryption, FSE 2004, held in Delhi, India in February 2004.

The 28 revised full papers presented together with 2 invited papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 75 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on algebraic attacks, stream cipher cryptanalysis, Boolean functions, stream cipher design, design and analysis of block ciphers, cryptographic primitives-theory, modes of operation, and analysis of MACs and hash functions.

This book is a good overview of codebreaking for non-technical people. It discusses many different types of ciphers throughout history in a very easy to understand way. I enjoyed it.

A fascinating topic treated simplistically.

If you want to read a wonderful book on cryptography, try Between Silk and Cyanide. Absolute first rate excitement and technical treatment.

This book introduces a wide range of up-to-date cryptological concepts along with the mathematical ideas that are behind them. The new and old are organized around a historical framework. A variety of mathematical topics that are germane to cryptology (e.g., modular arithmetic, Boolean functions, complexity theory, etc.) are developed, but they do not overshadow the main focus of the book. Chapter topics cover origins, examples, and ideas in cryptology; classical cryptographic techniques; symmetric computer-based cryptology; public-key cryptography; and present practice, issues, and the future. For individuals seeking an up-close and accurate idea of how current-day cryptographic methods work.

It's written in such a manner that someone with no cryptology knowledge can pick up and follow the text, and continue through smooth progressive chapters. I have only two years of my EE degree done, but i think anyone who can do arithmetic and has an interest in cryptology can read this book like a novel and take a good portion of it all with only reading and excercising with your brain. I read it and did all the exercises as well absolutely independently. I feel i have a solid grasp of all its content.

Developers tasked with security problems are often not cryptographers themselves. They are bright people who, with careful guidance, can implement secure cryptosystems. This book will guide developers in their journey towards solving cryptographic problems. If you have ever asked yourself "just how do I setup AES?" then this text is for you.

ASN.1 Encoding The chapter on ASN.1 encoding delivers a treatment of the Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) encoding rules for data elements such as strings, binary strings, integers, dates and times, and sets and sequences.

Random Number Generation This chapter discusses the design and construction of standard random number generators (RNGs) such as those specified by NIST.

Advanced Encryption Standard This chapter discusses the AES block cipher design, implementation trade-offs, side channel hazards, and modes of use. It concentrates on the key design elements important to implementers and how to exploit them in various trade-off conditions.

Hash Functions This chapter discusses collision resistance, provides examples of exploits, and concludes with known incorrect usage patterns.

Message Authentication Code Algorithms This chapter discusses the HMAC and CMAC Message Authentication Code (MAC) algorithms, which are constructed from hash and cipher functions.

Encrypt and Authenticate Modes This chapter discusses the IEEE and NIST encrypt and authenticate modes GCM and CCM. Both modes introduce new concepts to cryptographic functions. Focus is given to the concept of replay attacks, and initialization techniques are explored in depth.

Large Integer Arithmetic This chapter discusses the techniques behind manipulating large integers such as those used in public key algorithms.

Public Key Algorithms This chapter introduces public key cryptography, including the RSA algorithm and its related PKCS #1 padding schemes. It also introduces new math in the form of various elliptic curve point multipliers.

With 'Cryptography for Developers' by Tom St Denis I am not even going to try and pretend that I am an expert in this field. Written with software developers in mind, this book is a complex look at how software cryptography algorithms are designed and developed. With 400 pages of material contained within and a solid look at the source content, this is a great book for a niche field/market. If you are interested in software cryptography or do it for a job, you will no doubt find this to be a fascinating read.

**** RECOMMENDED

Cryptography for Developers deserves ongoing recommendation as a basic text - the only one written for software developers - probing the foundations of cryptography. Here are details covering message authentication codes, encryption models, public key cryptography, and more that discuss and provide examples of cryptographic goals and security measures. Any software developer serious about security must have this.

A lot of people who have read "Applied Cryptography" by BRuce Schneier are themselves not cryptographers or developing cryptographic software. In fact, very few people actually develop cryptographic software because it's tough to get right and most crypto libraries provide everything you need. However, for those that wish to enter the field, it can be daunting to learn. If you'd like to be one of those few, Tom St Denis' "Cryptography for Developers" may be for you.

The book's writing is clear and focused, not surprising given that the author has written before. St Denis makes a good choice to focus on new material for this book, specifically pointing you at other books for a background in cryptography and "bignum" math (very, very large numbers, which require atypical methods to manipulate).

If you're a C code developer, you'll get the material very well. If you're C isn't very strong, or you need the code for another language, you'll probably have some difficulty in making use of it (depending on how skilled you are with C). However, the code is clear and well annotated, so you can make pretty good sense of it pretty quickly.

Chapter 2 starts off with a bang and covers ASN.1 encoding. This is not a very common topic, so this is one of the only places you may find this sort of thing covered well. Right away you can see what you're in for: very clear background info, good use of illustrations, well written code with lots of annotations, and very sharp focus.

Chapter 3 covers random numbers (specifically RNGs and PRNGs). While you'll want to complement this with something like the CRC Applied Crypto chapters on random numbers, you'll get a pretty good idea of how to gather and make use of random numbers. One probem I noticed here was that notes that Yarrow and Fortuna are RNGs but later (and, I believe, correctly) states that they are PRNG algorithms. Overall, though, a good treatment of the topic and a discussion of where to use random numbers, how to test them, the limits of the tests, and what pitfalls to watch out for.

Chapter 4 is really one of the meaty chapters and covers AES very in depth. Many of the concepts covered here are reused in other chapters, so make sure you get this one under your belt.

Chapters 5 and 6 cover hash functions and message authentication code algorithms, respectively. Again, great treatment of a limited subset of the algorithms out there and very good discussions about the myths, truths, and appropriate uses of the algorithms. Very good, useful insights all around.

Chapter 7 covers encryption and authentication modes, providing you with code that starts to really put it all together.

Chapter 8 covers large integer arithmatic, but also states that it's no replacement for St Denis' other book on BigNum math. Another very useful topic covered here somewhat looks at optimizations and how to make efficient code. Again, valuable insights that you can apple to other topics.

Chapter 9 covers public key algorithms, but sadly doesn't give much code. This is a disappointment and unexpected, given how much code is in the rest of the book. Perhaps it was a length consideration or by design, I don't know.

I'm not a cryptographer, so I can't attest to the veracity of the code. I didn't spot any obvious errors in the code design or use, however. Finally, this book wont replace Applied Crypto (either the Schneier or the CRC tomes), you'll want to use this book in tandem with those volumes. So few algorithms are covered that you'll really want to have studied those first before you can make full use of this volume.

Finally, one other thing that's missing is a unified set of links and references. He would have benefitted the reader had he done so, because so much material is covered and referenced.

St Denis has produced a clear, focused volume that's well organized. If you want to go from algorithm outlines to implementations, this is the book to work with. The quality of the writing and production is higher than many other Syngress books, and that's much appreciated.