Cipher Presentation
Based on our work with Ciphers, I would like each of you to research and present about one of the classic ciphers.
Your presentation should include the following information:
Historical context
When was this cipher used? Who used it?
Mechanics
How does the cipher work? Demo an encryption and decryption Is it symmetric, does the same process decrypt as encrypt?
Mathematical Analysis
How many possible keys or codes could there be? How would you attempt to decode this message if you didn’t have a key. What is the mathematical complexity to solve the code?
Computer code
Find a website or program that will encode using this technique Demo how it works. Is there any easy “decode” available?
Final analysis
Why did this stop being a useful code? What made it useful when it was being used? What are other interesting uses of this code or similar codes?
Your final presentation should be given to the class as a PowerPoint with visuals and supporting information. This is a big assignment so be prepared to answer questions and give a complete picture of the cipher, it’s use, and historical context.
Possible Ciphers:
- Caesar Cipher
- Transposition Cipher
- Substitution Cipher
- Multiplicative Cipher
- Affine Cipher
- Vigenere Cipher
- One-Time Pad
- Polybius Square
- Four Square Cipher
- Rail fence cipher
- Atbash Cipher
- Scytale Cipher
- Bacon’s Cipher
- Book Cipher
- Pigpen Cipher
- Playfair Cipher
- M-94 Cipher
- Nihilist Cipher
- Hill Cipher
Extended Learning
Many resources could be used to extend the learning of this unit.
Hacking Secret Ciphers with Python
https://inventwithpython.com/hacking/chapters/
- Chapter 7 - Hacking Caesar Ciphers
- Chapter 12 - Detecting English Programmatically
- Chapter 15, 16 - Affine Cipher
- Chapter 21 - Hacking the Vigenere Cipher
- Chapter 22 - The One-Time Pad
CryptoClub
http://www.cryptoclub.org/
CryptoQuip
http://www.cecildaily.com/diversions/cryptoquip/
Rumkin Online Cipher Tools
http://rumkin.com/tools/cipher/
License
Cyber Security Curriculum 
is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.