The Nsa and Gchq
The Development of Monitors
By:
Professor
If you want to keep information secret, you have two possible strategies: hide the existence of the information, or make the information unintelligible. Cryptography is the art and science of keeping information secure from unintended audiences, of encrypting it. Conversely, cryptanalysis is the art and science of breaking encoded data. The branch of mathematics encompassing both cryptography and cryptanalysis is cryptology. This method of secrecy has existed since 1900 B.C. in the form of Egyptian hieroglyphs. Up to the present two organizations have come to the front of the field; United States ' National Security Agency (NSA) and United Kingdom 's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). In order to understand these institutions in their current state one must know their origins.
NSA
Although the National Security Agency is only forty-five years old (established by order of President Harry S. Truman in 1952), the functions it performs have been part of human history for thousands of years. The need to safeguard one 's own communications while attempting to produce intelligence from foreign communications has long been a recognized part of governmental activity.
In the American experience, cryptologic efforts can be traced to the very beginnings of the American nation. George Washington employed Elbridge Gerry (later Vice President of the United States) to solve the suspected cryptograms of a Tory spy, Dr. Benjamin Church. Thomas Jefferson included the making of codes and ciphers among his many interests, putting his efforts to use in both private correspondence and public business. One of his inventions, the cipher wheel, has been described as being in "the front rank" of cryptologic inventions.
The American Civil War created a new urgency for techniques in both cryptography (the manufacture of codes and ciphers) and cryptanalysis (the breaking of codes and ciphers). It also introduced new
By:
Professor
If you want to keep information secret, you have two possible strategies: hide the existence of the information, or make the information unintelligible. Cryptography is the art and science of keeping information secure from unintended audiences, of encrypting it. Conversely, cryptanalysis is the art and science of breaking encoded data. The branch of mathematics encompassing both cryptography and cryptanalysis is cryptology. This method of secrecy has existed since 1900 B.C. in the form of Egyptian hieroglyphs. Up to the present two organizations have come to the front of the field; United States ' National Security Agency (NSA) and United Kingdom 's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). In order to understand these institutions in their current state one must know their origins.
NSA
Although the National Security Agency is only forty-five years old (established by order of President Harry S. Truman in 1952), the functions it performs have been part of human history for thousands of years. The need to safeguard one 's own communications while attempting to produce intelligence from foreign communications has long been a recognized part of governmental activity.
In the American experience, cryptologic efforts can be traced to the very beginnings of the American nation. George Washington employed Elbridge Gerry (later Vice President of the United States) to solve the suspected cryptograms of a Tory spy, Dr. Benjamin Church. Thomas Jefferson included the making of codes and ciphers among his many interests, putting his efforts to use in both private correspondence and public business. One of his inventions, the cipher wheel, has been described as being in "the front rank" of cryptologic inventions.
The American Civil War created a new urgency for techniques in both cryptography (the manufacture of codes and ciphers) and cryptanalysis (the breaking of codes and ciphers). It also introduced new
Cited: Aubrey, C ,1981, Who 's Watching You? Britain 's Security Services & The Official Secrets Act. 1st ed. Pelican Bamford, J.,1983, The puzzle palace: America 's National Security Agency and its special relationship with Britain 's GCHQ. Sidgwick & Jackson Bamford, J., 2001, Body of secrets: anatomy of the ultra-secret National Security Agency: from the Cold War through the dawn of a new century. Doubleday Brownell, G.,1981, The origin and development of the National Security Agency. Aegean Park Press Hinsley, H., and Stripp, A., 1993, 1994, Codebreakers: The Inside Story of Bletchley Park Oxford University Press