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Glossary of Enigma related expressions

BOMBA   Mechanical machine, developed by the Polish Cipher Bureau prior to WWII, to aid in the (partly) automated breaking of Enigma messages. Based on the double enciphering of the message indicator.
BOMBE   Mechanical machine, developed by the British codebreakers of CG&CS during WWII, to aid in the (partly) automated breaking of Enigma messages. Based on the occurence of certain 'loops' in the ciphertext.
BP   Bletchley Park
An estate in the town of Bletchley (UK) that was the UK's main code breaking site during WWII. It is here where, amongst others, the German Enigma codes were broken. (More...) (Wikipedia) (Website)
Cillies   BP expression for silly German (Enigma) operator mistakes that could lead to recovery of the message key. Common mistakes were, for example, the use of the name of the operator's girlfriend as the message key, or simply three adjacent keys on the keyboard. (Wikipedia)
Cipher   The algorithm used for the encryption and/or decryption of information. In common language, 'cipher' is also used to refer to an encryption message, also known as 'code'. (Wikipedia)
Colossus   First programmable digital electronic computer built with more than 1700 valves. Used at BP to break the German Lorenz SZ-42 cipher machine. (Wikipedia)
Crib   Known or suspected part of the plain text
(Wikipedia)
Crypto   Cryptography
Cryptography   Common expression to refer to cryptographic equipment (cipher machines) and/or the process of encrypting and decrypting information. (Wikipedia)
GC&CS   Government Code and Cypher School
British code breaking organisation during WWII. Now called GCHQ.
GCHQ   Government Communications Headquarters
British intelligence agency. (More...) (Website)
ISK   Intelligence Service Knox
Also known as Illicit Services Knox. During WWII, ISK was a special section at Bletchley Park (BP) where the Enigma cipher of the German Abwehr was broken. The section was led by codebreaker Dilly Knox and was established after breaking the Enigma G in October 1941. After Knox died in February 1943, Peter Twinn became in charge. By the end of the war, ISK had intercepted and decrypted 140,800 Abwehr messages.
ISOS   Intelligence Services Oliver Strachey
Also known as Illicit Services Oliver Strachey. During WWII, ISOS was a special section at Bletchley Park (BP) where the hand ciphers of the German Secret Service were broken and where the intelligence derived from the broken messages was handled. The section was led by Oliver Strachey.
Key   A key is a piece of information (parameter) that determines the functional output of a cryptographic algorithm (cipher). Without the key, the algorithm can not be used. (Wikipedia)
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