codebreaking
Cracking encrypted messages
Codebreaking is the work of deciphering encrypted messages or solving secret codes, typically without having the key that was used to create them.
The term evokes wartime cryptanalysis, particularly the famous efforts at Bletchley Park during World War II, but it applies equally to modern cybersecurity and puzzle-solving.
Someone engaged in codebreaking is a codebreaker.
The codebreaking team worked around the clock to intercept enemy communications.
German encryption apparatus
- BletchleyWWII cryptanalysis site
- NavajoSouthwestern indigenous people
- UltraPremium product line marker
- ColossusImmense statue or figure
Turing · Lorenz · Purple · Midway · Rosetta · hieroglyphics · Friedman
Something hard to fathom
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- cipherHidden writing system
- clueSolving aid
- logicScience of valid reasoning
anagram · brainteaser · cryptogram · acrostic · wordplay · solve · crack · unscramble
Hidden writing system
- encryptionConverting data into code
- plaintextUnencoded readable information
- ciphertextEncoded, unreadable message
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
key · substitution · transposition · steganography · asymmetric · symmetric · hash · checksum
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- interceptSeize en route
surveillance · counterintelligence · tradecraft · agent · mole · dead-drop · classified · secret
Methodical study of parts
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- deductionConclusion from premises
- intuitionInstinctive immediate understanding
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
linguistics · mathematics · statistics · frequency · methodology · systematic · meticulous · breakthrough
Enigma
German encryption apparatus
- BletchleyWWII cryptanalysis site
- NavajoSouthwestern indigenous people
- UltraPremium product line marker
Turing · Colossus · Lorenz · Purple · Midway · Rosetta · hieroglyphics · Friedman
enigma
Something hard to fathom
logic · anagram · brainteaser · cryptogram · acrostic · wordplay · solve · crack · unscramble · hidden
cipher
Hidden writing system
- encryptionConverting data into code
- plaintextUnencoded readable information
- ciphertextEncoded, unreadable message
algorithm · key · substitution · transposition · steganography · asymmetric · symmetric · hash · checksum · RSA
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
intercept · surveillance · counterintelligence · tradecraft · agent · mole · dead-drop · classified · secret · decrypt
analysis
Methodical study of parts
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- deductionConclusion from premises
- intuitionInstinctive immediate understanding
persistence · linguistics · mathematics · statistics · frequency · methodology · systematic · meticulous · breakthrough · insight
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- secret codescipher, secret codes, password, passphrase, coded messages
- cipherscipher, Caesar cipher, substitution cipher, ciphertext, plaintext
- Codebreakingcipher, ciphers, codes, secret codes, ciphertext
- NSANSA, signals intelligence, SIGINT, electronic surveillance, Edward Snowden
- Pacific WarPearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, Midway, Okinawa, Guadalcanal
codebreakingencryption
Converting data into code
codemaking · enciphering · encoding · cryptography · encrypting
codebreakingconcealment
Act of hiding something
obfuscation · secrecy · classification · redaction · censorship
break, code, breaking, decode, unbreakable, decipher, encoded, encode, codex