Mechanical Backdoors in Cold War Encryption Machines

Explore the intriguing world of Cold War-era encryption machines and their hidden vulnerabilities in this 48-minute RSA Conference talk. Delve into recently declassified NSA documents that confirm long-held suspicions about deliberate weaknesses in Crypto AG's post-World War II mechanical cipher devices. Learn about the inner workings of these machines, including the Jefferson Wheel, substitution ciphers, and the infamous Enigma. Discover the fascinating history of Boris Hagelin's "pre-broken" devices and their role in Cold War espionage. Gain insights into cryptographic principles, supply-chain attacks, and the ethical implications of compromised encryption technologies. Examine the evolution of Crypto AG, from its early days to its corporate transformation, and the impact of these revelations on modern cybersecurity practices. Suitable for those with a basic understanding of cryptographic principles, this talk offers a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, history, and international intrigue.

Intro
Outline
Jefferson Wheel
Substitution
XOR
Sphinx
Enigma History
Hagler History
CX52
Crypto AGs
William Friedman
Marshall Foundation
Hagelin TC55
Redactors
Unredacted
Gentlemans Agreement
BBC Article
New Machines
A Year Later
The New Proposal
The Corporate Crypto AG
The Big Deal
The salesmen
Mark Rich
Jason Sewell
Security of the Supply Chain in China
Soviet Technology Transfer Program
Operational Instructions
Other Cool Crypto Stories