"Codebreakers are linguistic alchemists, a mystical tribe attempting to conjure sensible words out of meaningless symbols"

Science of Secrecy | Monk & Cryptography

The Code Book | Vignettes

#lovelyReads

So let me begin this post with a question!

How many of you, dear readers, have watched Monk on Netflix, recently?

Monk and his crime investigations, are quite a treat to the inquisitive mind - as he capitalises on even the most innocuous of clues as codes to crack the most arduous of cases so effortlessly! 

Well, I love Monk’s mannerisms, and his cool approach to solving cases, in spite of the fact that he is beset with a host of his fears and phobias and his ‘perfectionist’ ways to life – that in a way makes the detective mystery TV series all the more exciting to watch!

Well, for newbies, Monk - Adrian Monk is a private detective who offers his services for the SFPD – the San Francisco Police Department – and helps them in solving even the most puzzling and unsolvable of cases!

In one particular episode titled, ‘Mr. Monk and the Three Julies’ - Monk has to find the murderer, who appears to be killing women with the same name as Natalie’s daughter.

Just then, Natalie hears a communication from the police dispatcher over the radio about a possible “code 187” involving a victim with the name ‘Julie Teeger’.

Police: All units, be advised, possible 187, name Julie Teeger, repeat, possible 187.

Natalie: (over radio) The-the victim’s name! Repeat the victim’s name!

Police: Julie Teeger.

Natalie: Oh, my God... what’s a 187? Mr. Monk, what’s a 187?!

Monk: ... Homicide.

Natalie immediately panics, and asks Monk what the code 187 possibly means.

Monk replies that, the code 187 is a police radio code meaning homicide. Immediately, Natalie grabs the keys, jumps into Stottlemeyer’s car, and speeds away, despite repeated protests from Monk.

For thousands of years, kings, queens and generals have relied on efficient communication in order to govern their countries and command their armies.

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.

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.

The desire for secrecy has meant that nations have operated codemaking departments, responsible for ensuring the security of communications by inventing and implementing the best possible codes.

At the same time, enemy codebreakers have attempted to break these codes, and steal secrets.

Codebreakers are linguistic alchemists, a mystical tribe attempting to conjure sensible words out of meaningless symbols.

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, 

says Simon Singh - a popular science author, theoretical and particle physicist, in his highly engaging read titled, The Code Book.

The book talks about a different type of science - “the science of secrecy” - How to hide messages and the layers of meanings that lay hidden behind them.

It’s about cryptography.

The book covers the history of cryptography, right from the time it all began!

Queen Elizabeth has imprisoned her cousin Mary Queen of Scots on a plot to kill her. The only thing protecting Mary was that she had encoded all of her messages along with her conniving partners in crime!

On the morning of Saturday, October 15, 1586, Queen Mary entered the crowded courtroom at Fotheringhay Castle.

Years of imprisonment and the onset of rheumatism had taken their toll, yet she remained dignified, composed and indisputably regal.

Assisted by her physician, she made her way past the judges, officials and spectators, and approached the throne that stood halfway along the long, narrow chamber.

Mary had assumed that the throne was a gesture of respect toward her, but she was mistaken. The throne symbolized the absent Queen Elizabeth, Mary’s enemy and prosecutor.

Mary was gently guided away from the throne and toward the opposite side of the room, to the defendant’s seat, a crimson velvet chair.

Mary Queen of Scots was on trial for treason. She had been accused of plotting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth in order to take the English crown for herself.

Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s Principal Secretary, had already arrested the other conspirators, extracted confessions, and executed them. Now he planned to prove that Mary was at the heart of the plot, and was therefore equally culpable and equally deserving of death.

Unfortunately for Mary, Walsingham was not merely Principal Secretary, he was also England’s spymaster. He had intercepted Mary’s letters to the plotters, and he knew exactly who might be capable of deciphering them.

Thomas Phelippes was the nation’s foremost expert on breaking codes, and for years he had been deciphering the messages of those who plotted against Queen Elizabeth, thereby providing the evidence needed to condemn them. 

If he could decipher the incriminating letters between Mary and the conspirators, then her death would be inevitable. On the other hand, if Mary’s cipher was strong enough to conceal her secrets, then there was a chance that she might survive. Not for the first time, a life hung on the strength of a cipher.

Thus goes on, the gripping narrative, that Simon puts forth so eloquently, in this highly engaging read.

As information becomes an increasingly valuable commodity, and as the communications revolution changes society, so the process of encoding messages, known as encryption, will play an increasing role in everyday life.

Nowadays our phone calls bounce off satellites and our e-mails pass through various computers, and both forms of communication can be intercepted with ease, so jeopardizing our privacy. Similarly, as more and more business is conducted over the Internet, safeguards must be put in place to protect companies and their clients.

Encryption is the only way to protect our privacy and guarantee the success of the digital marketplace. The art of secret communication, otherwise known as cryptography, will provide the locks and keys of the Information Age,

says Simon Singh – aka Simon Lehna Singh, MBE, a British popular science author, theoretical and particle physicist.

So why wait? Do grab your copy from Amazon, and feel the sway of cryptography at its scintillating best!

pic courtesy: imdbdotcom