How Does the M-209 Cipher Machine Work? – A Brilliant Non-Electrical Encryption Device

#cryptology, #cryptography, #cryptanalysis In this video, we show how the M-209 cipher machine, which was developed by Boris Hagelin and used during WW2 and the Korean War, works. Boris Hagelin developed a series of crypto machines, where the M-209 and C-52 were the most famous ones. He also founded the company “CRYPTOAG“. About 140,000 M-209 units were produced in total (in the U.S.). As of early 1943, German cryptanalysts were able to read 10-30% of M-209 messages. Hagelin machines were delivered in more than 60 different countries world-wide. In the video, we first give a short overview of the history of the machine. Then, we describe the internal workings of the machine in detail. We also discuss the keyspace size. After that, we show a short live demo from another youtube video. For the whole live-demo, please have a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xua4xnyMmzE. A lot of thanks to Oscar Font (see his channel https://www.youtube.com/user/albertsystem) for showing his machine. Finally, we create a new CrypTool 2 workspace for encryption and decryption using the M-209. If you are interested in attacks and more details of the M-209, please have a look at our papers [1,2] [1] Lasry, George, Nils Kopal, and Arno Wacker. "Automated known-plaintext cryptanalysis of short Hagelin M-209 messages." Cryptologia 40.1 (2016): 49-69. [2] Lasry, George, Nils Kopal, and Arno Wacker. "Ciphertext-only cryptanalysis of Hagelin M-209 pins and lugs." Cryptologia 40.2 (2016): 141-176. You may download the latest version of CrypTool 2 from here: https://www.cryptool.org/en/ct2/downloads Like what I do 😄? Help fuel my crypto obsession 🎓 — buy me a coffee here☕— thx: https://buymeacoffee.com/cryptographyforeverybody