TODAY in Computer History: Enigma July 15, 1928 Enigma machine encodes first message The ENIGMA machine encodes its first message. A simple German machine the size of a portable typewriter, ENIGMA allowed for security in communications by a process in which typed letters were replaced by a cipher text displayed on illuminated lamps. The cipher was symmetrical so entering the cipher text into another ENIGMA reproduced the original message. Security was provided by a set of rotor wheels and a series of patch cables whose arrangement was agreed upon previously. ENIGMA was used extensively by the German military during W. W. II to transmit battle plans and other secret information. By December of 1941, however, British codebreakers managed to decipher the code, allowing them to routinely read most ENIGMA traffic. An ENIGMA machine is on display at The Computer Museum History Center.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 16:02:10 +0000
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