Decrypted secrets. Methods and maxims of cryptology. (Q4485845)

For a review of the orig. ed. (Springer 1997) see Zbl 0889.94008. The book provides a broad introduction to the field of cryptology from the historical perspective. It consists of two parts, cryptography and cryptanalysis. The part on cryptography takes the reader to a journey from the classical encryption steps, substitution and transposition, via polyalphabetic encryption including the rotor crypto machines to up-to-date symmetric and asymmetric encryption systems, as DES, IDEA, and RSA. Not covered are modern protocols, hash functions, zero-knowledge proofs and the like. The wonderful color plates on the ENIGMA and other cryptographic devices are very instructive. The part on cryptanalysis introduces basic methods to breaking mono- and polyalphabetic ciphers: exhaustive search, pattern matching, probable words, frequency analysis, periodicity tests, compromises, alignment of alphabets, linear basis analysis, and anagrammming. Many historical remarks are included. This book is a wonderful account to the field of cryptography. Everybody interested in cryptography should have it on her/his shelf.