crypto

Grade School Crypto Videos

This is a short, gentle two-part introduction to basic cryptographic concepts using text-based crypto examples. The…
Making Fun of Quantum Codebreaking

Quantum codebreaking uses a theoretically “large” quantum computer to break secret codes. Today, quantum computers handle…
Breaking Bitlocker

It was only a matter of time before someone did this. Bitlocker is Microsoft’s technique for…
The Quantum Computer Bogeyman

Peter Gutmann of the University of Aukland recently published a parable “On the Heffalump Threat.” He…
libhairshirt vs libfootgun

Peter Gutmann, an interesting crypto-academic from New Zealand, has proposed discussing two crypto libraries, libhairshirt and…
Selling It: Crypto Edition

Here is a crypto version of “Selling It,” a long-running back-page column in the magazine Consumer…
WPA2 Packet Frame Format

Wireless Protected Access, Version 2 (WPA2) is the version of Wi-Fi security used in most cases…
This photo should not exist

pin.it/fnnc4j6fjamugy Once we get past the creep factor of Nazi army uniforms, we see a communications…
Sen. John McCain, 1936-2018

In June, 1999, Senator John McCain had started his presidential bid and was visiting companies in…
The Six Types of Cyber-Risks

My textbook lists categories of cyber-attacks that focus on an attack’s lasting impact: how does it affect the…
Quantum Skepticism

Quantum computing gives us a way in theory to quickly crack certain types of cryptography. Well-funded…
The Big Bug in the News: the WPA2 flaw

The big news this week is a protocol flaw in the Wireless Protected Access protocol, version…
Tiptoeing Through Vulnerabilities

I sympathize with developers who throw up their hands and say, “I don’t do security stuff.”…
Cryptosmith Video Series

I have posted the fifteenth video in the Cryptosmith Series on practical basic cryptography. These videos use animation…
How DVD Crypto Keys Work

Here are a couple of short videos that describe the basic cryptographic mechanisms used in DVDs.…
Cryptosmith Video Series

The Cryptosmith video series uses animation to explain well-known crypto techniques. This should help more people…
Election Crypto Conspiracy Theory

I’m not often a fan of conspiracy theories, except for entertainment value. This one is interesting…
A Yank at Bletchley Park

A friend and colleague introduced me to a 94-year-old gentleman with a rare tale to tell. John…
Symantec Breaks Trust with the Internet?

Symantec is one of the companies that holds the keys to the Internet: they are a trusted…
The Apple case isn’t “privacy” versus “safety”

The current fight is about whether we will impose a technological infrastructure which will be exceptionally…
Backing Up OS X with Mirrored Encrypted RAID

Computing technology is insanely reliable when you look at statistical error rates. Hard drives read and…
NSA re-releases Boak’s Lectures

I’m a fan of Boak’s Lectures – they cover the fundamentals of military cryptography just before…
Recycling an iPhone – not a picnic

I’m upgrading my iPhone and trading in the old one. I had to erase the old one completely…
Encrypt All Hard Drives!

If you have the technical interest to read this, you probably do a lot of your…