Computing Atlas

How Computing Was Built
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Group

Classical Cipher

A classical cipher is an encryption method that predates modern computer-based cryptography, generally working by hand or with simple mechanical aids and relying on letter substitution or transposition rather than the bitwise mathematics of modern algorithms. The Caesar cipher, which shifts each letter a fixed number of places through the alphabet, and the Vigenere cipher, which applies a repeating-keyword sequence of Caesar-style shifts, are widely cited examples, along with the one-time pad, which is unconditionally secure when its key is truly random, used only once, and kept as secret as the message itself. Classical ciphers are studied today chiefly for cryptographic history and pedagogy rather than for real security use.

Browse By
Classical Cipher
Filter Results7 entries
Sources
Classical cipher - Wikipedia
Lead section
Quote, Lead section
In cryptography, a classical cipher is a type of cipher that was used historically but, for the most part, has fallen into disuse.
View the Source
Atbash (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Atbash, Lead, first sentence
Quote, Has Member: Atbash, Lead, first sentence
is a monoalphabetic substitution cipher originally used to encrypt the Hebrew alphabet
View the Source
ADFGVX cipher (Wikipedia)
Has Member: ADFGVX cipher, Lead
Quote, Has Member: ADFGVX cipher, Lead
the ADFGVX cipher was a manually applied field cipher used by the Imperial German Army during World War I.
View the Source
Vigenère cipher (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Vigenere Cipher Algorithm, Lead section
Quote, Has Member: Vigenere Cipher Algorithm, Lead section
is a method of encrypting alphabetic text
View the Source
Caesar cipher (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Caesar Cipher Algorithm, Lead section
Quote, Has Member: Caesar Cipher Algorithm, Lead section
one of the simplest and most widely known encryption techniques
View the Source
Beaufort cipher (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Beaufort cipher, Lead section
Quote, Has Member: Beaufort cipher, Lead section
is a substitution cipher
View the Source
Polybius square (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Polybius square, Lead
Quote, Has Member: Polybius square, Lead
The Polybius square, also known as the Polybius checkerboard, is a device invented by the ancient Greeks Cleoxenus and Democleitus, and made famous by the historian and scholar Polybius.
View the Source
Solitaire (cipher) (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Solitaire (cipher), Lead
Quote, Has Member: Solitaire (cipher), Lead
The Solitaire cryptographic algorithm was designed by Bruce Schneier at the request of Neal Stephenson for use in his novel Cryptonomicon, in which field agents use it to communicate securely without having to rely on electronics or having to carry incriminating tools.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.