“All this stained cryptology so deeply with the dark hues of esoterism that some of them still persist, noticeably coloring the public image of cryptology. People still think cryptanalysis mysterious. Book dealers still list cryptology under “occult.” And in 1940… — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“Hildegard von Bingen, an 11th-century nun who saw apocalyptic visions and was later canonized, had a cipher alphabet which she claimed came to her… — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“the most famous of all those who had an acquaintance with cryptology in the Middle Ages was an English customs official, amateur astronomer, and… — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“The task of the cryptanalysts consisted primarily of reconstructing the wiring and switches of the coding wheels—a task made more burdensome by the daily… — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“Analyzing the frequency and contacts of letters is the most universal, most basic of cryptanalytic procedures.” — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“General Joseph O. Mauborgne, who became Chief Signal Officer in October, 1937. Mauborgne had long been interested in cryptology. In 1914, as a young… — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“The only writer of the Middle Ages to describe cryptography instead of just using it was Roger Bacon, the English monk of startlingly modern… — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“Cryptology served magical purposes frequently throughout the Middle Ages, and even in the Renaissance was still disguising important parts of alchemical formulas.” — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“Ibn ad-Duraihim, according to Qalqashandi, gave seven systems of cipher:” — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“The technique was at least moderately well known, for Ibn Khaldūn wrote in The Muqaddimah: “Occasionally, skillful secretaries, though not the first to invent… — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“Cryptology was born among the Arabs. They were the first to discover and write down the methods of cryptanalysis. The people that exploded out… — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“Another steganographic system was still in use in the 20th century: Aeneas suggested pricking holes in a book or other document above or below… — David Kahn Copy Share Image
“Also of great importance in the discovery of linguistic phenomena that led to cryptanalysis was the development of lexicography.” — David Kahn Copy Share Image