If you're interested in classical cryptography, codes, and ciphers, here are some tools for Mac users. They don't solve your cipher, but they help you to solve it.
These are perl scripts that can be run on the Mac. You can run them from Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal). Of course, you can also run them on a UNIX box.
How to Save Files: right-click the file (or Control-click), then
select "Save File to Downloads ..." OR click a link below to see the
script, select all, copy, then go to Terminal, type pico [Return],
and paste. To save your new pico document, Control-O to
write out (name it appropriately).
Enigma mit Steckerbrett (Hack a
duck?): WDUYV DQCDE
Enigma (Alt Country?): XPMZF DJRKX FQYWF UOQPZ CYETZ ZZYOJ TYOLE
Photo by Oliver Robinson
My advice is to make a folder
and drag all the scripts into it. You can then navigate to your folder
by 1) typing cd (then space), and 2) dragging the folder
image directly into the Terminal window. The folder will magically turn
into a path. Hit return. To list the contents, type ls.
Make Beaufort Square (screen shot below rt.)
$> perl mkbeau.plMake Vigenère Square
$> perl mkvig.plMake 5x5 Polybius Square
$> perl polyfive.pl$> perl polysix.plIn
Terminal $> pico this.txt
Replace current contents of this.txt with your cipher.
(Control-K deletes a line; copy-paste into Terminal from your text file.)
In Term. $> more this.txt | perl
mkbeau.pl
LINKS:
- The American Cryptogram Association homepage. They also post a nice javascript for Aristocrat Ciphers.
- There are some wonderful pictures of Bletchley Park by Oliver Robinson.
- Wikipedia on the Vigenère.
- Helen Fouché Gaines, Cryptanalysis at the library nearest to you.
- David Kahn, Codebreakers at the library nearest you.
- Terry Long's Enigma Simulator for the Mac.
