REVIEW - Decrypted Secrets - Methods and Maxims of Cryptology


Title:

Decrypted Secrets

Methods and Maxims of Cryptology

Author:

Friedrich Ludwig Bauer

ISBN:

Publisher:

Springer Science & Business Media (1997)

Pages:

447pp

Reviewer:

Graham Kendall

Reviewed:

April 1998

Rating:

★★★☆☆


If you are interested in this subject I would have no hesitation in recommending this book.

When dealing with encryption the subject falls into two distinct parts. One being the encryption of data, the other being the decryption of the data.

The first part of this book looks at cryptography; that is the transformation of understandable information into a form that can only be understood by the receiver. The author initially looks at open codes. That is information that can be easily read but contains a hidden message. There are many variations just on this method. For example marking characters in a newspaper with invisible ink or by writing in such a way that certain letters stand out to the person receiving the message. If you are interested in modern methods both DES (Data Encryption Standard) and RSA (named after the people that devised it) are both covered. Part one of the book ends with a discussion on encryption security and the political and moral issues that encryption raises.

The second part looks at crypto-analysis, that is the process of trying to break a message that has been coded. Discussions include why it is normally impossible to carry out an exhaustive search of all possibilities in order to decode the message and how techniques such as the frequency of the letters in the English language can help the code breaker.

In taking us along these two paths, the author covers a wealth of material and gives a good historic background to many of the subjects discussed.

If you are interested in this subject I would have no hesitation in recommending this book (depending on the price - which was not available to the reviewer).


Book cover image courtesy of Open Library.





Your Privacy

By clicking "Accept Non-Essential Cookies" you agree ACCU can store non-essential cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Current Setting: Non-Essential Cookies REJECTED


By clicking "Include Third Party Content" you agree ACCU can forward your IP address to third-party sites (such as YouTube) to enhance the information presented on this site, and that third-party sites may store cookies on your device.

Current Setting: Third Party Content EXCLUDED



Settings can be changed at any time from the Cookie Policy page.