DES Controversy

                In a previous blog, I talked about the controversy regarding how much the government should be allowed to “invade the public’s privacy.” Now, I am pondering a similar, yet completely different question. Should the government be allowed to restrict the means by which the public gets its privacy? This controversy stems from the idea of DES. The government wants to restrict the security of the codes businesses use to  keep their products safe so it can in turn keep the public safe. However, by doing this, the businesses themselves are putting themselves at risk on the chance that there are hackers out there capable of breaking DES. With technology continuing to advance, how often should the standard be changed? Should the government be more focused on building its hacking capabilities rather than weakening the security of the standard coding system?

DirecTV's War With Hackers

                        After reading about the security (or lack thereof) of DirecTV’s programming signal from the online article DirecTV’s War on Hackers, what I found the most interesting was actually the reader’s comments on the article. The first couple presented the idea that decrypting air signals is not actually stealing TV. I was surprised by this, because while I was reading the article, it never even occurred to me that the people receiving this free TV weren’t doing anything wrong! It seemed obvious to me that if you weren’t paying for the programs, but you received the signal through direct action on your part, then that was stealing. However, the first few comments proposed the idea that “When you steal something, the person that you stole it from no longer possesses it. An example of stealing TV would be smashing a shop window, grabbing a television set under your arm, and running. This is by no means the same thing. DirecTV are broadcasting their signal over satellite. Whether you pay for their service or not, it gets beamed into your property. If you have a dish, you will pick up the signal. If you happen to have the means of decoding this signal, you can watch their TV shows. How is this stealing?” I do not think this changes my mind about the fact that what was going on here is wrong, but it is definitely and interesting point that made me stop and think.

I Guess I'll Comment About the Elephant in the Room

                It is rather funny we went through seven weeks of blogging about secrets, privacy, and cryptology without once mentioning the infamous Facebook. I will admit, while I have a facebook and do check it rather regularly, I am the last person to talk about the secrets of the mysterious world that is Facebook. My sister created my facebook account, for I know absolutely nothing about computers! Lucky for you, I found a website to share the Facebook secrets, so I do not have to pretend as if I know what I am talking about. This website follows an experiment that was designed to unravel the algorithms of the social network, something the people of Facebook intentionally keep quiet. Questions about what type of posts and comments show up on your newsfeed are all answered on this website. Take a look. You may be surprised!

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/10/18/the-facebook-news-feed-how-it-works-the-10-biggest-secrets.html

Navajo Code Talkers

In The Code Book, by Simon Singh, I learned that the Navajo language was actually used as a code in itself during World War II. I found this piece of history rather fascinating, and even more fascinating that I did not know about it! The Navajo code talkers contributed to a major part of the war effort during World War II. There is even a date, August 14, set apart in honor of the work the Navajo tribe did to further the Allies to victory. Still, this is not something you learn about from your middle school or high school teachers when covering World War II.

It is indeed a brilliant idea to use a language unfamiliar to most of the world as a secret method of communication. It is much faster than mechanical codes and was on of the few unbreakable codes throughout history. However, I cannot help but wonder about the security of such a code compared to a written key. While it is true that not many people are familiar with the Navajo language, it is also true that not everyone who knew that language was working as a secret code breaker. That being said, if the enemy was able to determine that the language of the transmitted messages was Navajo, then one had easy access to finding someone who could “break the code” (or someone who spoke Navajo.) Unlike written keys, the language is not something that is contained within the walls. There are not only two copies, one for the sender and one for the receiver. I wonder, were Navajos ever kidnapped and forced to translate the messages? How would one go about translating the message, if the Navajo did not speak the language of the enemy? Or was the problem recognizing that the language was in fact Navajo?

This method of secret communication is probably not still used today (or I imagine it would still be classified information). If the code was indeed unbreakable, why stop using it? Did the enemy catch on and send people of their own to learn the mystifying language? The Code Book gives us the beginning of the Navajo story, but how does it end?

Languages, Idiomas, Sprachen, langues, språk, 言語, Γλώσσες, زبان

                    How many languages do you think exist? While much of cryptology is based on mathematics, a lot of it is also based on linguistics. There are over 6900 recognized languages in the world. In the United States alone, there are over 200 languages spoken. How would cryptology be different if everyone in the entire world spoke the same language? Would it even make a difference, since codes can involve replacing figures with numbers and symbols as well? When a code is intercepted, how does the cryptanalyst know which language the code is in? Where do you even start!

Preventable Pearl Harbor??

Upon reading The Code book, which mentioned recruiting cryptanalysts for the enigma cracking team through a crossword puzzle contest, I immediately thought of my grandfather, who I consider to be a master in the art of solving the weekly newspaper puzzles. The next opportunity I had, I challenged him with the very crossword that the Government Code and Cypher School posted in the 1942 Daily Telegraph. The task was to finish the puzzle in twelve minutes.  Though my grandpa was unsuccessful, (giving up after solving about 2 of the clues), we began talking about cryptology and its role in history. Through our conversation, I learned about the Purple code, which was one of the secret methods of communication used by the Japanese during World War II. I was really surprised and intrigued when my grandfather stated that, because of this code, the United States actually knew about the attack on Pearl Harbor before it happened, and did not do anything to prevent it! The reason, my grandfather explained, was because it would give the United States an excuse to declare war. A major attack, such as the one on Pearl Harbor, would be enough to provoke nationalism and provide an incentive to enter the war! FDR, the President himself, kept American commanders in the dark about the looming attack. Also, preventing the attack would have let the Japanese know that we were able to read their codes. Over 4000 lives were stolen on the day that lives in infamy, but allowed President Roosevelt to take America into the War. Was such a loss, which could have been prevented, worth it? Did FDR do his duty as the President of the United States by lying to his people and sacrificing American lives? How would the outcome of the war have been different, had the attack on Pearl Harbor not happened?

Police Codes

We all have heard them from one place or another. TV has made it practically common knowledge that 10-4 means “Ok.” Police codes, while they vary in different areas, were designed to facilitate communication between officers. Nowadays, the meaning of each code is broken down on the internet or advertised on the television. They are not exactly kept a secret from those wanting to figure out their meanings. In today’s world, is it really logical to continue to use police codes over common speech? Is it really faster to say 10-4 than “Ok”? What is the point of keeping this code?

The Zodiac Ciphers

Between 1966 and 1974, the Zodiac killer sent over 20 written messages to the police. His messages were also received by newspapers. Four of his messages (one of which was a 3 part cipher sent to 3 different newspapers) to the authorities were written in the form of ciphers.The newspapers were told to publish the ciphers, or the Zodiac would kill again. A couple of school teachers were actually responsible for deciphering on of the ciphers. Some still remain unsolved. The serial killer was active in Northern California during the late 60’s and early 70’s. The Zodiac claimed responsibility for 37 murders, but only 5 have been confirmed by the police. Though the police had several suspects, the true identity of the Zodiac killer remains a mystery today. In one message, the Zodiac said that if his cipher was broken, it would lead to his capture. The message, having been cracked, merely stated the purpose of his killing spree: to collect slaves for the afterlife. After three years of silence, the Zodiac sent another message to the Chronicle Newspaper stating that the movie The Exorcist was the best satirical comedy he had ever seen. Over the past ten years or so, many people have come forward, claiming someone they know is the Zodiac killer. DNA tests proved all of these false. Who knows if the true identity of the Zodiac killer will ever be known.