Idling computers crack Nazi Enigma codes (Remaining unbroken codes below)

The Times (U.K.) ^ | Sam Knight

[OSHA]

a German submarine that was eventually sunk in the North Atlantic in February 1944 by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Woodpecker and HMS Starling.

That had to be embarrassing.

[SengirV]

It's obviously the German version of the funniest joke ever told - "Two peanuts were walking down the street. And one of them was a-salted"

[ShasheMac]

Well, I hope you're happy. I just read partway through that joke and got a little sick. I might have died, but, fortunately, it wasn't all that funny.

[jpl]

This is awesome. I'm going to lend my computer to this in its idle processing time.

I wouldn't be too surprised though if these last two messages were just gibberish fakes thrown out to deliberately confuse the Allies in the case of interception. But you never know!

[MplsSteve]

I agree. Amazingly, it was the Poles who came up with some of the initial breaks in Enigma.

Have you ever visited the NSA's web site? There are some interesting (and long) articles about Enigma and how it was broken. Click on this link:

http://www.nsa.gov/history/histo00007.cfm

Warning: Reading "The Cryptographic Mathematics of Enigma" will make you insane or your head explode!

[colorado tanker]

I haven't seen the NSA article, but have read Codebreakers - a good read.

IMHO the Poles have never gotten enough credit for getting their hands on the first machine.

I got to see an original Enigma in the Imperial War Museum, a way cool place.

[generally]

This is pretty cool. I'd do it, too, if I weren't already folding proteins with my computers. If any of you are interested, please check out the FR folding threads after the code is broken. You can put your computers to work finding cures for Alzheimer's, cancer, and other diseases. Thanks.

[MplsSteve]

I'll bet the Imperial War Museum is incredible!

I saw an Enigma once. Back in 1989, the Smithsonian's Museum of American History had one on display. I was told that it was the first time since WWII ended that one was put on public display.

Interesting.

[colorado tanker]

If you get to London, be sure to see the IWM annex, Churchill's WWII secret bunker under the Public Works department. It's been opened to the public and is fascinating as well.

[dfwgator]

It's obviously the German version of the funniest joke ever told - "Two peanuts were walking down the street. And one of them was a-salted"

"We'll let you know." * BANG *

[70times7]

Ein widerlich stinkend anzeige? Hundesohn!

[isom35]

"the walrus was paul" ...."live long and prosper" "a nickel aint worth a dime" .....

[MirrorField]

I'd like to see our computers attempt to decipher the remaining Venona transcripts - if they're capable of doing it.

Unfortunately impossible. Most of the Venona transcripts were encrypted using a One-Time Pad and thus theoretically unbreakable. Those that NSA managed to break were purely a result of Soviets screwing up. Those that can be decrypted are most likely already decrypted by NSA...

[nw_arizona_granny]

ping

[Ciexyz]

What's the prize if we win?!

[MplsSteve]

I stand corrected.

I had previously read a few articles about VENONA and incorrectly assumed the Russian codes could be broken with extensive use of a computer.

I read the Wikipedia link for one-time pad. You're right. It is virtually impossible to crack. The only stuff we know is because of a lucky break.

Nonetheless, it would be fascinating if we were able to translate the remaining VENONA intercepts. I think we'd be horrified at the depths of Soviet penetration of our government.

[Uriah_lost]

Of interest?