From 75542.1003@compuserve.comTue Sep 12 18:04:58 1995 Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 15:46:21 EDT From: "Randy Nichols, ACA Pres." <75542.1003@compuserve.com> Reply to: ACA-L To: Multiple recipients of list ACA-L Newsgroups: bit.listserv.aca-l Subject: Course Preliminaries CLASSICAL CRYPTOGRAPHY COURSE BY LANAKI September 12, 1995 PRELIMINARIES ROLL CALL I want to confirm that I can reach all of my students. Many have computer access to the INTERNET. Some can reach only a BBS. Others do not use computers and require postal or snail mail access. Plan 'A" Electronic Mail I intend to use our ACA-L List [ACA-L@vm1.nodak.edu] for assignments, discussions, special projects , and file storage to the Crypto Drop Box (CDB). The ACA-L listserver should distribute materials automatically to the majority of my class. Plan "B" for backup I request ABACUS to open up his BBS to my students so that they can download assignments. Please post and E-Mail instructions for its use. Please coordinate with NORTH DECODER's team for any EDI transfer requirements. Plan "C" I directly mail copies of papers, assignments, downloaded discussions or alt-G snapshot mode on CIS, etc. to students unable to obtain documents via Plan "A" or "B" above. Please send me a short E-Mail to 75542.1003@Compuserve.com that confirms that you are on Plan A: the ACA-L, or B the BBS. I will assume plan C for balance of students. If you do not have a NOM, please register one soonest. If I have missed you please advise. Current Honor Enrollment (55): PARROT, PC/AT, CORUM, GRAPEJUICE, RAGYR, SIOBHAN, NORTH DECODER, BERGALL, LEDGE, LEXREX, JENSON, SYNTAX, TEACH, ALEX, DARNOC, SMOKEY, EL CONDOR, JACKPINE SAVAGE, IEFBR14, CHARLOTTE, MURTHA, HOKI PUCQUE, ERACE, YRLFAK AD SH'BERE, WEEONE, ROUGH WRITER, ASAP, BITWISE, DONJON, GAMESTER, GRAY MOUSE, JOE O, GUNNER, CRACKERJACK, TYRO, DAEDALUS, ABACUS, APPLE JACK, SCRYER, SNAIL PACE, WALRUS, DADA, RIDDLER, DAVLIN, ESSAYONS, BRASSPOUNDER, MICROPOD, ODAL, THE RAT, NAZO, FIZZY, AXOQ, SCOTT, BISINABI, LANAKI --------------- HOMEWORK (for those of you who want to jump ahead) Assignment 1. October 1995 - November 1995. times approximate. We will start our discussions with Cryptographic First Principles and Substitution Ciphers. This would include A1-A25 for the Aristocrats, P1-P12 for the Patristocrats and X1-X7 for the Xenocrypts. We will look at classification, identification, keyword setup and recovery, and several cryptanalytical attacks. We will solve by hand and by computer methods. Depending on which book(s) you have, READ: [GA] GAINES, Helen Fouche', "CRYPTANALYSIS: a study of ciphers and their solution," Dover Publications, NY, 1986 (1'st printing 1939.) Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11. Appendices pp. 218 - 223. and/or [LE] LEWIS, Frank W., "Solving Cipher Problem's," Aegean Park Press No 58, Laguna Hills, Ca. 1992. Chapters 1-4. and for pure enjoyment, [KA] KAHN, David, "The Codebreakers," MacMillian Publishing Company, New York, NY, 1967. (1976). Chapter 2, especially pp 99 - 105. [FL] Anonymous, "The Friedman Legacy: A Tribute to William and Elizabeth Friedman," Sources in Cryptological History No. 3, Center For Cryptological History, National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755 - 6000, Att. D91. pub. 1992 [This is an excellent reference, available FREE, while supplies last from NSA and I recommend it highly.] Read lecture 1. and/or pertinent sections from: [FR1] FRIEDMAN, William F. and L. Callimahos, "Military Cryptanalytics, Part I" , Aegean Park Press, Laguna Hills, Ca. 1993. SPECIAL CLASS ASSIGNMENT Each student will pick his/her ONE favorite cipher from "The Cryptogram" for intensive study. Plan on researching the origin and history, use, methodology and "cracking" techniques. Be prepared to present and discuss with your classmates when we cover it in class. Be sure to include available computer programs and appropriate references. My best too all, LANAKI