CipherBoB an introduction to cryptology

Have fun learning about and using some of the most important ciphers and codes used throughout history and satisfy your inner nerd in the process!

Have you ever been intrigued by secret codes and ciphers?

Have you ever wondered how messages were encrypted before computers existed?

Have you been fascinated by the story of the Enigma machine and wanted to know how it worked?

Inspired by a visit to Bletchley Park in England, home of the UK codebreakers during the 1939-1945 world war, CipherBoB lets you explore some of the most important codes and cipherers used throughout history.

Using CipherBob you can create ciphers of each type and then use these to encipher messages to send to your friends or decipher messages received from your friends and in the process learn about the ciphers you use. The app includes a brief summary of the history of each cipher type as well as step by step walk through of how each cipher works.

Ciphers currently supported by CipherBoB are:

Caesar ciphers

Learn about the cipher that Julius Caesar used for all his secret communications. With the Caesar cipher module you can:

• Configure your own Caesar cipher
• User your Caesar cipher to encipher plain text
• User your Caesar cipher to decipher encrypted text
• Send secret messages to friends encrypted with your Caesar cipher

Substitution ciphers

Learn about the natural successor to the Caesar cipher that is still used today! With the Substitution cipher module you can:

• Configure your own Substitution cipher using two different techniques
• Use your Substitution cipher to encipher plain text
• Use your Substitution cipher to decipher encrypted text
• Send secret messages to friends encrypted with your Substitution cipher

Polybius Square ciphers

Learn about what is perhaps the first fractionating cipher and the forerunner of the modern day semaphore. With the Polybius Square module you can:

• Configure your own Polybius Square
• Use your Polybius Square to encipher plain text
• Use your Polybius Square to decipher encrypted text
• Send secret messages to friends encrypted with your Polybius Square

Book ciphers

Learn about Book ciphers the favourite cipher of conspiracy theorists, mystery writers and movies. With the Book cipher module you can:

• Configure your own Book cipher using one of three techniques
• Use your Book cipher to encipher plain text
• Use your Book cipher to decipher encrypted text
• Send secret messages to friends encrypted with your Book cipher

Morse code

Learn about Morse Code, the ubiquitous distance communication technology of the last century. With the Morse code module you can:

• Set your own letter and word speed, from beginner to expert
• Try your hand at tapping out Morse using a virtual Morse key
• Translate plain text to Morse dots and dashes
• Translate plain text to Morse audio
• Translate Morse dots and dashes back into plain text
• Record Morse audio and have it automatically translated into plain text
• Send Morse messages to friends

Enigma

Learn all about the infamous Enigma machine that played a pivotal role during the 1939-1945 war. Using our Enigma machine you can:

• Configure each of the Enigma settings, rotor positions, start positions, plugboard etc.
• Use your Enigma cipher to encrypt plain text
• Use your Enigma Cipher to decrypt cipher text
• Use our Enigma engine to decipher the messages featured in the many excellent books and movies on the Enigma machine<

Lorenz

Learn all about the Lorenz the unbreakable German cipher that played a pivotal role during the 1939-1945 war. Using our Lorenz machine you can:

• Configure each of the Lorenz settings, rotor positions, start positions etc.
• Use your Lorenz cipher to encrypt plain text
• Use your Lorenz Cipher to decrypt cipher text
• Use our Lorenz engine to decipher the messages used to plan D-Day!

Public/Private Key ciphers

Learn about the cipher technology that underpins most secure internet transactions. Using a very simple Public/Private Key implementation you will learn why these ciphers are so tough to crack. With the Public/Private Key module you can:

• Generate your own Public and Private keys
• Encrypt plain text using a friend's Public Key
• Decrypt cipher text that has been encrypted using your Public Key
• Digitally sign a message
• Send encrypted messages to friends

Once you have mastered the basics step it up a bit by challenging your friends to crack your code!

Version 4.1 now available in the App Store!

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