Posts Tagged ‘ElonkaDunin’
[DefCon32] Encrypted Newspaper Ads in the 19th Century
Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh, renowned cryptology experts, unravel the mystery of encrypted advertisements published in The Times between 1850 and 1855. Intended for Captain Richard Collinson during his Arctic expedition, these ads used a modified Royal Navy signal-book cipher. Elonka and Klaus’s presentation traces their efforts to decrypt all ads, providing historical and cryptographic insights into a unique communication system.
The Collinson Cipher System
Elonka introduces the encrypted ads, designed to keep Collinson informed of family matters during his search for the lost Franklin expedition. The cipher, based on a Royal Navy signal-book, allowed Collinson’s family to encode messages for publication in The Times, accessible globally. Elonka’s narrative highlights the system’s ingenuity, enabling secure communication in an era of limited technology.
Decrypting Historical Messages
Klaus details their decryption process, building on 1990s efforts to break the cipher. Using their expertise, documented in their book from No Starch Press, Klaus and Elonka decoded over 50 ads, placing them in geographic and cultural context. Their work reveals personal details, such as messages from Collinson’s sister Julia, showcasing the cipher’s effectiveness despite logistical challenges.
Challenges and Limitations
The duo discusses the system’s mixed success, noting that Collinson received only four messages in Banuwangi due to expedition unrest. Klaus addresses the cipher’s vulnerabilities, such as predictable patterns, which modern techniques could exploit. Their analysis, enriched by historical records, underscores the challenges of maintaining secure communication in remote settings.
Modern Cryptographic Relevance
Concluding, Elonka explores the potential of artificial intelligence in cryptanalysis, noting that LLMs struggle with precise tasks like counting letters but excel in pattern recognition. Their work invites further research into historical ciphers, inspiring cryptographers to apply modern tools to uncover past secrets, preserving the legacy of Collinson’s innovative system.