100 Yearsin Polish Cryptography
Nicolas T. CourtoisUniversity College of London, UK
Security of Bitcoin
2
Dr. Nicolas T. Courtois
1. cryptologist and codebreaker
2. payment and smart cards (e.g. bank cards, Oyster cards etc…)
Security of Bitcoin
3
My Bloghttp://blog.bettercrypto.com
Crypto Currencies
4Nicolas T.
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 20125
18th Century
Code making and code breaking was done by all major powers.
Famous mathematicians: Pierre de Fermat, Pascal, Goldbach... were code breakers..
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 20126
All Broken?
Example:
• At the end of 18th Russia was breaking the codes of virtually all major powers.
• End of 19th century: the same– ONLY Vienna was able to keep their diplomatic
communications secret from Moscow.
– all other countries’ ciphers were broken.
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 20127
Intelligence Services
Russia and Austro-Hungary were leaders in the creation of modern
“Military Intelligence”.
[Kahn]
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 20128
20th CenturyDisruptive invention:
Radio communication.
Initially forbidden or distrusted in the army. But adoption inevitable.
Very soon “routine” encryption was needed:
• Encryption done as routine job of specialized soldiers: “cipher clerks” and “cipher officers” worked along “radio-operators”.
History: 1914
• Beginning of WW1: Russians recovered a code book from SMS Magdeburg…
• Russia started breaking German codes…
– Very close near real-time cooperation with the British intelligence.
• Daily keys were broken in 30-90 minutes.
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 20129
1917-20: Sudden Decline of Russian Cryptology
• The Tzarist services mostly continued their work with the armies of white generals.
• Red Army reated a new service.• lack of crypto expertise…
• In 1918 - 1920 almost all encrypted correspondence of the General Staff and the Soviet Government was easily broken by
– the white (counterrevolutionary) armed forces
– the British,
– the Swedish,
– the Polish.
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 201210
Austria-Hungary
• Was a real melting pot where many nations mixed…
• Herrman Pokorny: – Native German speaker born in Moravia…
– Died in 1960 as a general in Hungarian army…
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 201211
Hermann PokornyAustria-Hungary leading code breaker and linguist
Austria-Hungary
• 1914-17: Pokorny+team broke Russian codes
so quickly that "for a long time our German allies
couldn't believe it," [von Walzel]
• Key factor in Central Powers victories over Russia in WW1.
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 201212
Hermann PokornyAustria-Hungary leading code breaker and linguist
Poland
• His cousin maj. Franciszek Pokornyhave later headed the Polish Cipher Bureau…– 1929: taught cryptography to
Rejewski, Różycki Zygalski in Poznan
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 201213
Austrian-Hungary => Poland
• 1918: Polish state was created. – in no time Poland became the worldwide
leader in:• intelligence and clandestine operations
• professional radio interception
• code breaking
– Immense success in War with Russia…• Kowalewski “Won the War”.
• Order of the Rising Sun –the highest military award in Japan
• Virtuti Militari -the highest military award in Poland
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 201214
Jan Kowalewski
Code Breakers
R&D vs. GDP[source: world bank 2016]
• Mongolia 0.2% Pakistan 0.3% Belarus, Bulgaria, 0.70% Poland, Turkey 0.9%,
• Brazil, Russia 1.1% Portugal 1.4%
• Canada, UK 1.6%
• Czech Rep. 1.9% China 2.0%
• Australia, France, Belgium, Estonia 2.3%
• Austria 2.7% Germany 2.80%
• Sweden 3.2% Japan 3.4% Finland 3.6%
• Korea 3.8% Israel 4.1%http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS
Code Breakers
Bad News
Code Breakers
Nicolas T. Courtois, 201217
Jan Kowalewski
3 June 2016