CP3404 Assignment 1

SP2, Townsville & Cairns (2020)

Due by Friday September 25, 2020 (no later than 5:00pm)

Aim: This assignment is designed to help you improve your critical thinking and problem
solving skills, as well as your information literacy skills (i.e. the ability to select and organise
information and to communicate it effectively and ethically).

Requirements, Method of Submission, and Marking Criteria:

• Answer all of the following questions in a single document. Each question should begin on a
new page.

• For each of the first two (2) questions, write a report of approximately 750 words in the
structure of a scientific paper.

• Include your name on the first page. Include list of references for each question with proper
in-text citations.

• For marking criteria of the first 2 questions, see the included rubric.

• In your answer to question 3 (i.e., cryptanalysis), show all your work. Five (5) marks are
assigned to the determination of the correct keyword, and five (5) marks to the determination
of the complete plaintext (partial marks count). Note that using the Internet for deciphering
the cryptogram and/or learning the key is an instance of plagiarism. You have to show
(step-by-step) how did you achieve the plaintext and key.

• Upload your solution to the Assignment Box, located in the subject’s site.

1. Using the web, find out who Kevin Mitnick was.

What did he do?
Who caught him?
Write a short summary of his activities and why he is famous.

[5 marks]

2. One-Time Pad (OTP) – An unbreakable cryptographic system

Use the Internet to search OTPs; who was behind the initial idea, when they were first used,
in what application they were found, how they are used today, etc. Then visit an online
OTP creation site such as www.braingle.com/brainteasers/codes/onetimepad.php and practice
creating your own ciphertext with OTP. Exchange your OTPs with other students to see
how you might try to break them. Would it be practical to use OTPs? Why or why not?
Write a short summary on your findings.

1
 [5 marks]

3. Cryptanalysis of Substitution Ciphers:

In this question you learn a classical monoalphabetic (substitution) cryptographic system,
and are required to cryptanalysis a given cryptogram.
In substitution ciphers, a permutation of the alphabet is chosen as the cryptogram of original
alphabet. That is, every letter of the plaintext substitutes by corresponding letter in the
permuted alphabet. For example,

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
c o d k s z r g e l u y a f m v p h i n w t b j q x

Figure 1: A possible permutation of English alphabet

is one of such permutation, in which letters a, b, c, · · · , y, z from the plaintext are substituted
by corresponding letters c, o, d, · · · , q, x respectively. Since remembering permutation is not
easy, one may employ a keyword and use a table to generate the permuted alphabet. Let
CRYPTOGRAPHY be the keyword. The permuted alphabet can be obtained as follows.

• Choose a 6 × 5 table/matrix, i.e., a table with 6 rows and 5 columns.

• Write down the secret keyword in cells (1, 1), (1, 2), · · · , one letter in each cell, but skip
repeated letters. Figure 2 shows how ‘CRYPTOGRAPHY’ (as a keyword) written down
in the table.
• Write alphabet letters (in order) from the first available cell after keyword, but skip all
letters that are already written in the table. You will come out with Table 3.
• The permuted alphabet, which will be used to generate the cryptogram, can be obtained
by simply reading the content of Table 3 in columns order (see Figure 1).

C R Y P T
O G A H

Figure 2: CRYPTOGRAPHY is the Keyword

Your Task:
Cryptanalysis of an information system is the study of mathematical techniques for attempting
to defeat information security services.
A cryptographic system is said to be breakable if a third party (i.e., cryptanalyst), without
prior knowledge of the key, can systematically recover plaintext from corresponding cipher-
text within an appropriate time frame.
In this question, you are required to determine the plaintext and the keyword associated to
the given cryptogram. Note that brute force attack (i.e., searching all possible keys) in order

2
 C R Y P T
O G A H B
D E F I J
K L M N Q
S U V W X
Z
Figure 3: Table for permuting alphabet

Figure 4: Letter frequency in English texts

to find the keyword is not efficient. However, letter frequency (see Figure 4) attack is an
efficient tool for breaking substitution ciphers.
In the following you can find 10 cryptograms, where the breaks are genuine breaks between
English words. You are required to decipher the cryptogram that matches with your Student-
ID.

[10 marks]

3
 Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX0

vehmdrt-uts (dnkq gdnnto ksbbtrehg) gesvrqkskrtbk wkt

rct kdbt ktgetr uts zqe tjgesvrhqj djo otgesvrhqj.
dnrcqwyc rct tjgesvrhqj djo otgesvrhqj utsk oq jqr
jtto rq it hotjrhgdn, rct ujqfntoyt qz qjt qz rctb
kwzzhgtk rq qirdhj rct qrcte. vwinhg-uts (dnkq gdnnto
dksbbtrehg) gesvrqkskrtbk wkt d ohzztetjr uts zqe
tjgesvrhqj djo otgesvrhqj. rct ujqfntoyt qz qjt uts,
cqftmte, oqtk jqr dnnqf rct qrcte rq it otrtebhjto.it

Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX1

gq dtj mxgfvrs cutrgyul qatq qau tjjxbwqgph pz th gehpcthq

tqqtfvuc dtj hpq cutrgjqgf. bpjq utcrs uxcpwuth fcswqpjsjqubj
ducu lujgehul qp dgqajqthl qau tqqtfvj pz ulxftqul pwwphuhqj
dap vhud qau uhfcswqgph wcpfujj, nxq lgl hpq vhpd qau
fcswqpectwagf vus. tllgqgphtrrs, gq dtj cumxujqul qatq qau
uhfcswqgph thl lufcswqgph wcpfujjuj fpxrl nu lphu mxgfvrs,
xjxtrrs ns athl, pc dgqa qau tgl pz bufathgftr luigfuj jxfa
tj qau fgwauc lgjv ghiuhqul ns ruph ntqqgjt trnucqg.

Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX2

jupiini, hi uhj jtahipo fnbv, ophl qut qutnbtqhgpo

znxilpqhnij nz anltbi gbswqnrbpwus. ut xjtl hiznbapqhni
qutnbs qn piposjt ghwutbj pil gnijhltbtl qut jn-gpootl
wbnlxgq ghwutbj, fuhgu xjt japoo jxdjqhqxqhni dnktj
gniitgqtl ds opbrtb wtbaxqpqhni dnktj. jxdjqhqxqhni dnktj,
pojn gpootl j-dnktj, pbt gniqbnootl ds p btopqhetos junbq
gbswqnrbpwuhg vts qn wbnehlt gnizxjhni (dtgpxjt nz qut
xivinfi jtgbtq vts).

4
 Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX3

fi phfj wswub, cu lfjdxjj judxbfpq, pbxjp, sil lujfti fjjxuj doipbsjpfit

phu lfzzubuiduj gupcuui nsbfoxj sxdpfoi pqwuj.
cu cfrr jhoc phsp woob lujfti zob si urudpboifd sxdpfoi gbusdhuj phu
judxbfpq oz phu jqjpua sil lutbsluj fpj wbsdpfdsrfpq --io asppub hoc
judxbu uzzfdfuip sbu phu gxfrlfit grodvj oz si urudpboifd sxdpfoi.
zxbphubaobu, cu lfjdxjj s jup oz buexfbuauipj zob wbsdpfdsr
sil judxbu urudpboifd sxdpfoij (iopu phsp srr ukfjpfit fipubiup sxdpfoi
jfpuj hsnu io judxbfpq --iufphub zob phu gflj iob zob phu gfllubj-- sil
pbxjp fj zxrrq wrsdul fi phu sxdpfoiuub, chfdh fj iop sdduwpsgru zboa
bujusbdh wofipj oz nfuc).

Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX4

qat lnqn tigdswqhpi jqnilndl (ltj) fnj qat zhdjq

gpcctdghnm-udnlt cpltdi gdswqpudnwahg nmupdhqac fhqa
pwtims nil zxmms jwtghzhtl hcwmtctiqnqhpi ltqnhmj.
hq fnj ltetmpwtl zdpc mxghztd nil etds jppi rtgnct n
jqnilndl zpd tigdswqhpi hi rnivhiu nil pqatd ipi-chmhqnds
nwwmhgnqhpij. hq xjtj qat jnct zthjqtm jqdxgqxdt
fhqa japdqtd 64-rhq lnqn rmpgvj nil n japdqtd 64-rhq vts.

Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX5

cxfognhi fch eq fuciigzgqk cffnbkghl on orq hxaeqb nz iquuqbi chk orq

achhqb ep drgfr egkkqbi ixeago egki.
ch cxfognh orco rci nhup nhq iquuqb chk achp expqbi
gi bqzqbbqk on ci c ighluq cxfognh.
ch cxfognh dgor achp iquuqbi chk achp expqbi
g.q., c iqfxbgogqi acbvqo) gi bqzqbbqk on ci c knxeuq cxfognh.
egkkghl gh ch cxfognh fch opwgfcuup eq nz odn opwqi: iqcuqk nb
nwqh.
gh c iqcuqk egk cxfognh, iqfbqo egki hno vhndh on orq norqb
egkkqbi cbq ixeagooqk on orq cxfognhqqb.
nhfq orq egkkghl wqbgnk funiqi, orq egki cbq nwqhqk chk orq dghhqb gi
kqoqbaghqk cffnbkghl on inaq
wxeugfup vhndh bxuq (q.l., orq rglrqio egkkqb dghi).
gh ch {\qa nwqh egk} cxfognh, egki cbq vhndh on cuu wcbogfgwchoi
orbnxlrnxo chk czoqb orq egkkghl wqbgnk funiqi.

5
 Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX6

seu ulwudhujgu fhse seu cjcmtkhk rz seu puk ociu icmxcnmu

hjkhoesk hjsr seu pukhoj wdrwudshuk rz gdtwsrodcwehg cmordhseak.
carjoks seu acjt pukgujpcjsk rz seu puk, ferku ksdxgsxdu
fck nckup rj zuhksum wudaxscshrj, cdu seu qcwcjuku zcks
ujgdtwshrj cmordhsea (zucm) cjp seu cxksdcmhcj mrvh cmordhsea.

Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX7

ij 1976 pizziu cjp bummecj ijsfrpxhup sbu hrjhuws rz

wxdmih-vut hftwsrktksuek. wxdmih-vut hftwsrktksuek
(cmkr hcmmup ckteeusfih ktksuek) xku sgr pizzufujs vutk;
rju ik wxdmih gbimu sbu rsbuf ik vuws kuhfus. hmucfmt,
is ik fuaxifup sbcs hrewxsijo sbu kuhfus vut zfre sbu
wxdmih rju bck sr du ijsfchscdmu. ij 1978 sbfuu pukiojk
dckup rj sbu jrsirj rz wxdmih-vut ktksuek gufu wxdmikbup.

Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX8

bftuhq, hornfb rgk rklunrg hopcuk opc qou zrdqpbfhrqfpg

wbpilun dpxlk iu xhuk qp dpghqbxdq r wxilfd-vus
dbswqphshqun (qofh fh qou cull-vgpcg bhr dbswqphshqun).
nubvlu rgk oullnrg xhuk qou vgrwhrdv wbpilun fg qoufb
dpghqbxdqfpg. ndulfudu ixflq r hshqun cofdo rwwlfuk
ubbpb dpbbudqfge dpkuh. lrqub fg 1985, ulernrl kuhfeguk
r wxilfd-vus dbswqphshqun xhfge qou kfhdbuqu lperbfqon
wbpilun. nfllub rgk vpilfqy hxeeuhquk xhfge ullfwqfd
dxbtuh qp kuhfeg wxilfd-vus dbswqphshqunh.

Cryptogram for whom their Student-ID is XXXXXXX9

tigcsvqhpi hj qat vchbhqhet gcsvqplcfvahg pvtcfqhpi

xjtm qp tijxct jtgctgs pc gpizhmtiqhfohqs pz hizpcbfqhpi
qcfijbhqqtm fgcpjj fi xijtgxctm gpbbxihgfqhpi gafiito.
qat tigcsvqhpi pvtcfqhpi qfutj f vhtgt pz hizpcbfqhpi,
fojp gfootm btjjflt pc vofhiqtkq, fim qcfijzpcbj
hq hiqp f gcsvqplcfb pc ghvatcqtkq xjhil f jtgctq
gcsvqplcfvahg uts. mtgcsvqhpi hj qat ctetcjt pvtcfqhpi
qp tigcsvqhpi. qat ctgthetc dap apomj qat gpcctgq jtgctq
uts gfi ctgpetc qat btjjflt (vofhiqtkq) zcpb qat
gcsvqplcfb (ghvatcqtkq).

6
 CP3404 Assignment Rubric

Exemplary Good Satisfactory Limited Very Limited

Criteria
(9, 10) (7, 8) (5, 6) (2, 3, 4) (0, 1)
- Informative and - Too long or too short - Too long or too short
summative in an excellent - Partially informative or - Hardly informative or
way summative summative
Title
- contains most keywords - Partially intriguing and - Contains no keyword
5%
- Intriguing and thought- thought-provoking - Hardly intriguing and
provoking in an thought-provoking
excellent way
- Excellent summary of - Satisfactory summary of - No or very limited
Abstract contents containing contents containing some abstract
10% problem statement, of problem statement,
approach, and result approach, and result
- Highly appropriate - Largely appropriate - Inappropriate structure
structure and professional structure and format, and format, according to
format, according to the according to the the genre/text type and
genre/text type and task genre/text type and task task requirements, with
Structure
requirements, including requirements, including no/limited attention to
15%
clear attention to word attention to word length word length limit, and
length limit, and effective limit, and use of sections, use of sections,
use of sections, paragraphs and/or links paragraphs and/or links
paragraphs and/or links
- Identifies, explains and - Identifies and explains - Demonstrates little
prioritises key issues in a Exhibits key issues in a routine IT Exhibits mastery of the material
complex IT related aspects of related situations. aspects of in the topic area, and
situations, drawing upon exemplary - Demonstrates moderate satisfactory shows no ability to
relevant theory and real or (left) and mastery of the material in (left) and synthesise and abstract
hypothetical examples. satisfactory the topic area, and shows very limited knowledge
Content
- Demonstrates clear (right) moderate ability to (right)
35%
mastery of the material in synthesise and abstract
the topic area, and shows knowledge
excellent ability to
synthesise and abstract
knowledge

- Excellent progression of - Satisfactory progression - Unsatisfactory

topics of topics progression of topics
- A highly conventional - A largely conventional - Unclear explanation
Readability
academic writing style, academic writing style, for all concepts
25%
including the use of including the use of
appropriate terminology appropriate terminology
and unbiased language and unbiased language
- Adheres to - Mostly adheres to - No referencing or very
IEEE/APA/Harvard IEEE/APA/Harvard limited use of
referencing conventions in referencing conventions in references
Referencing in-text citation, in-text citation,
10% presentation of presentation of
tables/figures and tables/figures and
reference list, with next- reference list, with some
to-no errors errors