Working of Enigma
Enigma Machine was a remarkable invention of the early 20th century in field of Encryption. This revolutionized the way messages were encrypted and decrypted. The Enigma Machine worked by encrypting messages using a complex system of rotors and electrical pathways. Enigma transformed plain text into coded messages that were nearly impossible to decipher without the correct settings. Its encryption strength was the large number of possible settings and the changing nature of encryption with each keypress.
Here is simple working explanation of Enigma Machine:
Keyboard Input: The machine input was same a typewriter. When operator press a letter key, it generate an electrical signal.
Rotor Encryption: This machine has several rotors each with 26 electrical contacts corresponding to the alphabet. The electrical signal from pressed key entered these rotors. As the signal passed through each rotor, the letter can be changed. For example, ‘A’ might change to ‘G’.
Reflector Mechanism: After passing through all the rotors, the signal reached a reflector. This sends it back through the rotors, changing it again.
Output Display: The encrypted signal activate a light on Enigma’s panel and light the encrypted letter. This was the output for the originally pressed key.
Rotors Move With Each Key: Each time a key was pressed the first rotor moved one position. After completing a full rotation it triggered the next rotor to move. This changes the encryption each time and it was making the code extremely complex.
Decoding Needs Same Settings: To decrypt the message the receiving Enigma machine needs the same rotor settings. The encrypted message was then typed into the machine and the process provides decrypted message.
Enigma | Definition, English Meaning, Machine, History, Alan Turing
An enigma is something really hard to understand or figure out. It’s like a puzzle or a mystery. When we call something an enigma, it means it’s not easy to explain or understand. It could be a riddle, or a person who is hard to read.
Table of Content
- Enigma – Definition, Meaning
- What is Enigma Machine?
- Role of Enigma machine in World War 2
- Working of Enigma
- Impact of Enigma Machine in Today’s World
- Why was Enigma so hard to break?
- Important Question on Enigma