Cryptology, for millennia a "secret science", is rapidly gaining in practical importance for the protection of communication channels, databases, and software. Beside its role in computerized information systems (public key systems), more and more applications inside computer systems and networks are appearing, which also extend to access rights and source file protection. The first part of this book treats secret codes and their uses - cryptography. The second part deals with the process of covertly decrypting a secret code - cryptanalysis - where in particular advice on assessing methods is given. The book presupposes only elementary mathematical knowledge. Spiced with a wealth of exciting, amusing, and sometimes personal stories from the history of cryptology, it will also interest general readers.
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"the best single book on cryptology today" David Kahn, author of the classic, "The Codebreakers"
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Cryptology, for millennia a "secret science", is rapidly gaining in practical importance for the protection of communication channels, databases, and software. Beside its role in computerized information systems (public key systems), more and more applications within computer systems and networks are appearing, which also extend to access rights and source file protection. The first part of this book treats secret codes and their uses - cryptography. The second part deals with the process of covertly decrypting a secret code - cryptanaly-sis - where in particular advice on assessing methods is given. The book presupposes only elementary mathematical knowledge. Spiced with a wealth of exciting, amusing, and sometimes personal stories from the history of cryptology, it will also interest general readers. "Decrypted Secrets" has become a standard book on cryptology. This 3rd edition has again been revised and extended in many technical and biographical details. "The best single book on cryptology today" (David Kahn, Cryptologia) "For those who work actively with cryptology this book is a must. For amateurs it is an important dictionary which in many cases will guide them to make their ciphers more secure." (Arne Fransen, International Intelligence History Study Group)
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
A technical guide covering the simplest code and ciphers up to recent computer base algorithms. This is a two-part guide, the first covering different classes of code, their history, construction and mathematical analysis. The second part covering various techniques to analyse and break the ciphers. These are not quick fix type breaks but scientific methods for attacking an essentially mathematical problem.
A recommended read for anyone wanting a more indept and less historical look at this topic.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By B. Wilson
Format:Hardcover
A "carry-around" is a book you find so precious, that you have to take it everywhere with you - even the bath. Books can be obsessive, and this book thoroughly deserves to be someone's obsession. I spent several months digesting its contents, useful if you are writing a cryptographic program, as I was at the time. In its historical research it is first rate with surprising and novel examples, which both delight and instruct. As a mathematician, I was able to deal with the mathematical approach.... even so the writing becomes less accessible when the writer lets his mathematical side have full sway. It's thorough, meticulous and precise. It's the kind of book, which banishes the need for any other book of its kind.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I don't often give 5 stars, and it certainly isn't the kind of silly-headed "I've got a new book!" exuberance I've seen so often on Amazon reviews, be sure of that. Fact is, I still haven't completely read this book. I started, quickly got stuck, and gave up. That was almost a year ago. Hey, I'm a talentless cyberpunk wannabee, cryptology is required reading, right?
So I drifted along reading other, easier, books about programming, operating systems, computer security and the like ...until recently my girlfriend gifted me "The Code Book", by Simon Singh. Pure popular science hokum, of course, but a very jolly read nonetheless, and it (specifically the cryptanalysis challenge at the end) re-ignited my earlier, misguided, fascination.
"Decrypted Secrets" (subtitled "Methods and Maxims of Cryptology") is divided into two parts: firstly cryptography, starting with simple concepts, getting mathematical very quickly and proceeding to harder things. I still get stuck in here, but I assure you it's really very precise and thorough. It looks it anyway. The second half is on cryptanalysis - the main reason I dusted it off - and once you get rolling in it all makes good sense. I shan't go on. Let me conclude, though, by saying that I am certain "Decrypted Secrets" provides an ideal technical complement to the history provided by David Kahn's "The Codebreakers". Erm, which I also haven't finished. High praise though. I think. Yes.
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