Complete examples of encryption systems broken by Elizebeth Smith Friedman: 1923–1934

Department or Administrative Unit

Mathematics

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2022

Journal

Cryptologia

Abstract

Elizebeth Smith Friedman has been credited with breaking hundreds of encryption systems during Prohibition, yet few complete examples exist. Using material available in the Elizebeth Smith Friedman archives at the Marshall Library, examples of a variety of encryption systems are presented. Complete examples include original ciphertext, plaintext, and a description of the encryption process. Friedman’s cryptanalysis of some of these messages is described.

Comments

This article was originally published in Cryptologia. The full-text article from the publisher can be found here.

Due to copyright restrictions, this article is not available for free download from ScholarWorks @ CWU.

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