This is similar to the situation facing, for example, a strain of infectious bacteria. In turn, this new code thrives only until the codebreakers identify its weakness, and so on. It either becomes extinct or it evolves into a new, stronger code. When the codebreakers have developed a new weapon that reveals a code’s weakness, then the code is no longer useful. A code is constantly under attack from codebreakers.

Evolution is a wholly appropriate term, because the development of codes can be viewed as an evolutionary struggle. The first is to chart the evolution of codes. In writing The Cracking Code Book, I have had two main objectives. The history of codes and ciphers is the story of the centuries-old battle between codemakers and codebreakers, an intellectual arms race that has had a dramatic impact on the course of history. Codebreakers are linguistic alchemists, a mystical tribe attempting to conjure sensible words out of meaningless symbols. At the same time, enemy codebreakers have attempted to break these codes and steal secrets. The desire for secrecy has meant that nations have operated codemaking departments, which were responsible for ensuring the security of communications by inventing and implementing the best possible codes. It was the threat of enemy interception that motivated the development of codes and ciphers: techniques for disguising a message so that only the intended recipient can read it. At the same time, they have all been aware of the consequences of their messages falling into the wrong hands, revealing precious secrets to rival nations and betraying vital information to opposing forces. Read moreįor centuries, kings, queens and generals have relied on efficient communication in order to govern their countries and command their armies. In addition to stories of intrigue and warfare, Simon Singh also investigates other codes, the unravelling of genes and the rediscovery of ancient languages and most tantalisingly, the Beale ciphers, an unbroken code that could hold the key to a $20 million treasure. The betrayal of Mary Queen of Scots and the cracking of the enigma code that helped the Allies in World War II are major episodes in a continuing history of cryptography. Simon Singh brings life to an amazing story of puzzles, codes, languages and riddles – revealing the continual pursuit to disguise and uncover, and to work out the secret languages of others.Ĭodes have influenced events throughout history, both in the stories of those who make them and those who break them. The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography. Simon Singh’s best-selling title The Code Book now re-issued for the young-adult market. The secret history of codes and code breaking. How to make it, break it, hack it, crack it.

The code book singh