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Adventures in Group Theory: Rubik's Cube, Merlin's Machine, and Other Mathematical Toys
Joyner, David. 2002. 262 pages.
Categories: Mathematics, Top Picks |
If you want to understand cryptography, you’ll need some good background in group theory. You might as well learn how to solve permutation-based puzzles in the process. I slowly worked through ever page of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It also helps that I own all the puzzles discussed in the book (hockypuck, Rubik’s Domino, Masterball, Pyraminx, Rubik’s 2x2, Rubik’s 3x3, Skweb, Megaminx, Merlin’s Magic, Lights Out, Orbix, Rubik’s Clock, and the Rubicon). If you’re going to work through all the mathematics (highly recommended), then make sure you print out a copy of the errata page and keep it with the book.
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Anyone who is even slightly interested in crypto history should try to track down a copy of this
book. This book is Yardley's memoirs on forming the WWI Black Chamber - an organization who's "sensitive
ears catch the faintest whisperings in the foreign capitals of the world". Yardley writes about
secret inks, forging of embassy seals, the training of "friendly" female spies, and on more than
one occasion, executions as a result of his work. An excellent read.
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Code Breakers, The: The Comprehensive History of Secret Communication from Ancient Times to the Internet
Kahn, David. 1996, Revised edition. 1181 pages.
Categories: History, Reference, Top Picks |
The Code Breakers is the Bible of historical cryptography (1900 BC to 1965 AD), weighing in at 1181
pages. While the revised edition briefly covers more recent encryption (two key systems, etc) it's
sort of an unnecessary tag on to this great work. I recommend this book for people already
interested in cryptography. No technical background is required.
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Cryptography Decrypted
Mel, H. X. / Baker, Doris. 2001. 352 pages.
Categories: Reference, Top Picks |
Cryptography Decrypted is perhaps the best introduction to current cryptography available. It
covers everything you'd expect from a cryptography book (symmetric key, public key, MACs,
SSL, IPsec) but does so using pictures. Nearly every page has a friendly diagram explaining
otherwise complicated details, all without cheapening the content. No mathematical background
is required, but you'll pick up some number theory by the time you've finished reading it.
A co-worker of mine who bought the book said "My spouse could understand this!". Cryptography
Decrypted is for anyone who likes to learn on their own, or for security folks that find
themselves regularly explaining cryptography to less technical individuals.
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As "Cryptography Decrypted" is a great "from the ground up" tutorial in cryptography for the non-technical, so "Cryptography Demystified" is for those with a computer science or math degree. The author crafts notions of cryptographic security, then leads you down less-than traditional, but highly illuminating paths to get there. This book is very unconventional and refreshing original – certainly not another rehash of introductory cryptography topics. You’ll find yourself carefully reading every page. While a math background in statistics, calculus, linear algebra, and automata theory is not required to absorb this book cover to cover, it does help you complete the exercises. 58 pages contain the detailed solutions to the chapter questions. Go get this book.
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Handbook of Applied Cryptography
Menezes, Alfred J. / van Oorschot, Paul C. / Vanstone, Scott A. 1997. 816 pages.
Categories: Reference, Top Picks |
This large volume is more of an exhaustive reference than it is a handbook (as the title suggests).
It differs from Schneier's "Applied Cryptography" in that it is far more academic (rigorous and
formalized), and less hands-on (no source code is given). Like a good handbook, it gives a very
modular treatment of each topic. This book is an essential addition to your cryptography library, but
it is not a tutorial.
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Perhaps the best book from which a programmer could learn number theory on his own time. 425 pages of
theory with code examples of nearly everything discussed (included on CD in back). Most
of the number theory is directly applicable to modern cryptography. This is a "best of it's kind" book.
It looks like it may have gone out of print already, so track down a used copy soon.
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Number Theory in Science and Communication: With Applications in Cryptography, Physics, Digital Information, Computing, and Self-Similarity
Schroeder, Manfred. 1997, 3rd edition. 420 pages.
Categories: Mathematics, Top Picks |
Number Theory in Science and Communication is now in its third edition (97), and has kept up with advances
since its original publication in 1984.
While not primarily a cryptography book, it is a great primer for anyone who wants to understand
the mathematics behind crypto (such as residues, Galois fields,
primitive roots, indexes, the Chinese Remainder Theorem, etc).
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A best of its class book. The book covers nearly everything concerning security design in such diverse domains as the cable industry, friend or foe systems, banking, and healthcare. Topics include MLS design, nuclear command and control, emission security, directed energy weapons, phreaking, government planted back doors, and much more. Well known attacks (man in the middle, replay, etc.) normally associated merely with networks are explored in other unexpected contexts. This work is chock full of fascinating DMCA violations, including extensive information on defeating hardware crypto systems and smart cards, with many of the methods being developed by the author himself. The book demands a careful reading because over and over again, gems are hidden in seemingly innocuous sections.
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