Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Hagelin C-52 and CX-52

Hagelin CX-52
© D. Rijmenants
The C-52 and CX-52 from Hagelin Cryptos (Crypto AG, Switzerland) are one of the most successful state-of-the-art cipher machines ever build. Thanks to a simple but brilliant design these all-mechanical devices have a tremendous key space and cryptographic strength. The pin-and-lug type CX-52 cipher machine has a total of 4.13 x 1099 possible keys!

The introduction of this machine caused quiet some disturbance in the cryptanalytic community. The C-52 and CX-52 are without a doubt the most popular Cold Ware era cipher machines. They were sold to more than 60 countries and remained popular for decades.

A complete description, the technical details and working principle of this machine can be found on my Hagelin C-52 & CX-52 page. Dutch readers can go to this page.
Posted by Dirk Rijmenants at January 23, 2007
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2 comments:

Unknown said...

It will be very intresting, considering the new facts of operation "Rubikon" to know more about:

- The timing of influence of BND and CIA.
- The compromised machines, only the electronic machines?
- Differentiated influences on mechanical and electronic machines?
- Why didn't anyone notice? The same problem as with the Germans in WW2.


Good luck continues!

11 February 2020 at 22:37
Dirk Rijmenants said...

Plenty of bomshells hitting the open.

https://www.cryptomuseum.com/intel/cia/rubicon.htm

https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/chile-cyber-vault-intelligence-southern-cone/2020-02-11/cias-minerva-secret?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=5b509d5e-ef5c-460d-9af7-ad29fe821feb

Also interesting is the link between Oscarl Vierling and ASA (later NSA). See my post on Castle Feurerstein:

https://rijmenants.blogspot.com/2016/02/castle-feuersteins-laboratorium.html

All thrust through the windows. Most interresting, but kinda sad.

11 February 2020 at 22:55

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