Ganzúa: A cryptanalysis tool for monoalphabetic and polyalphabetic ciphers

ABSTRACT

Many introductory courses to cryptology and computer security start with or include a discussion of classical ciphers that usually contemplates some cryptanalysis techniques used to break them. Ganzúa (picklock in Spanish) is an application designed to assist the cryptanalysis of ciphertext obtained with monoalphabetic or polyalphabetic ciphers. It can use almost arbitrary character sets for the plain and cipher alphabets as well as obtain the standard relative frequencies of many languages and provide other useful data.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  E. Data
  E.3 DATA ENCRYPTION

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.1 Computer Uses in Education
          Subjects: Computer-assisted instruction (CAI)
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education
  K.8 PERSONAL COMPUTING
      K.8.1 Application Packages
          Subjects: Freeware/shareware

General Terms:
Security

Keywords:
Cryptology, classical cryptography