Enigma machine - Build a part of History

[Felix/FFDS]

http://www.xat.nl/enigma-e/desc/index.htm

What can I say?

Bascially, a kit is offered so that you can build your very own Enigma machine, and to boot, decipher several German Army encoded messages.

[SilverFox441]

http://www.xat.nl/enigma-e/desc/index.htm

What can I say?

Bascially, a kit is offered so that you can build your very own Enigma machine, and to boot, decipher several German Army encoded messages.

You would have thought that someone in NATO would have told the Germans to stop using that code already.

The Bundeswehr is going to be very upset!

[WebbPA]

Interesting but couldn't you just make a computerized emulator?

Moore's Law x 50 years would seem to say that you could crack the code in a couple of seconds.

[Hagar]

Bletchley Park museum sells miniature versions of the Engma machine. They are basically toys & I didn't bother to get one myself. They also have computerised version you can play with online. http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/

Cracking the code is no use at all without knowing the settings for the day & the operator's personal settings that are changed with each message. The fact that some operators disobeyed instructions led to the success of the codebreakers & vital messages being decoded.

[Felix/FFDS]

Interesting but couldn't you just make a computerized emulator?

Moore's Law x 50 years would seem to say that you could crack the code in a couple of seconds.

Of course you can, and definitely there are better encryption methods/devices.   The reasoning is the same as "why build a replica aeroplane when you can buy something current"? - Just because.

[ozzy72]

why build a replica aeroplane when you can buy something current"?

Err guilty as charged
Mind you I'm sure there are a few enigma emulators out there. And of course you have to consider that there were several variants with various numbers of pin-wheels as well Doug... Thank goodness for Station X and the likes of Mr. A.Turing!

Mark

[Hagar]

And of course you have to consider that there were several variants with various numbers of pin-wheels as well Doug...

Yep, I'm aware of that after a guided tour of Bletchley Park a few months ago. Even the simplest form with 3 wheels is impossible to break without knowing the daily settings & those of the operator*. The latter was the stroke of genius.

*Of course, this might be possible today with a modern computer.

[ozzy72]

As I recall the early breakthrough was when someone realised that an operator had to transmit the first letter of the day twice, and from that they could deduce the setting and start cracking the code.... Mind you its been a while since I read up on this....

Mark

[Hagar]

I believe this was the case but the big breakthrough came when they realised that one operator in particular ignored orders. He regularly left the wheels where they were throughout the whole day, maybe longer, no matter how many messages he sent. A simple spin of even one wheel for each message would have prevented this.

[Scorpiоn]

I'd be interested in making a Enigma machine, but that picture in the link looks nothing like it!

Although I've always wanted to build a mini air raid siren, but never bothered looking it up since I assume it's illegal to have one.

[Felix/FFDS]

I'd be interested in making a Enigma machine, but that picture in the link looks nothing like it!

Although I've always wanted to build a mini air raid siren, but never bothered looking it up since I assume it's illegal to have one.

Notice the the link gives the kit and how to build the "Enigma-E" for electronic - some modern technology is in there for convenience.