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AES
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Advanced Encryption Standard
(Wikipedia)
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AIVD
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Centrale Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst
Dutch Intelligence and Security Agency.
(Website)
(Other)
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ANMCC
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Alternate National Military Command Center
Backup command center of the Pentagon's NMCC,
also the backup terminal of the
Hotline (DCL), located in Raven Rock Mountain.
(More...)
(Wikipedia)
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ASCII
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American Standard Code for Information Interchange
Character encoding scheme, based on the ordering of
the English alphabet, using 7-bits to describe each letter.
Commonly used to represent text in computers, communication equipment
and other devices that use text.
Most modern encoding schemes are based on extended ASCII.
(More...)
(Wikipedia)
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AUTOKO
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Automatisiertes Kommunikationssystem 90
Wide area communications system used by the German Army (Bundeswehr).
AutoKo I was introduced on 1977, followed in 1985 by AutoKo II and finally
in 1995 by AutoKo 90. AUTOKO was gradually phased out from 2010 onwards.
Examples of AutoKo equipment are the
Siemens CTE-020,
the Elcrovox 1/4
and the ANT KWF.
(Wikipedia)
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AUTOVON
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Automatic Voice Network
Military phone system that was built in the US in 1963.
Designed to survive nuclear attacks, it allowed non-secure voice calls with precedence (piority override).
(More...)
(Wikipedia)
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BAUDOT
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Method for sending text-based messages over wire or radio links, using a
5-bit digital code. Based on the ITA2 standard. (More...)
(Wikipedia)
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BID
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British Inter Departmental
Identification used for equipment used by the British Armed Forces
and various Government departments. BID is sometimes erroneously
explained as British Industrial Development (even by people in the know).
Each device is identified by the abbreviation 'BID' followed by a '/' and
a number, e.g. BID/950.
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BP
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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)
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BND
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Bundes-Nachrichten-Dienst
German intelligence service.
(Wikipedia)
(Other)
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CELP
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Codebook Excited Linear Prediction
Method for digitizing human speech, also known as a vocoder.
Improved version of LPC encoding.
CELP is a US Government standard that can be used at 4800 baud.
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CEROFF
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Cipher Equipment Rapid Off-Line
Code name of a NATO evaluation in 1974 to find a replacement for the ageing
KL-7 cipher machine. Examples of CEROFF compatible
equipment are
Aroflex,
RACE (KL-51) and
Picoflex.
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CFB
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Cipher Feedback
A block cipher mode that enhanced ECB mode by chaining together
blocks of cipher text it produces, and operating on plaintext segments
of variable length, less than or equal to the block length.
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CIA
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Central Intelligence Agency
(Wikipedia)
(Website)
(Other)
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CIK
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Crypto Ignition Key
A physical token (usually an electronic device) used to store, transport
and activate the cryptographic keys of electronic cipher machines.
(Wikipedia)
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Cipher
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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)
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COMSEC
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Communications Security
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Covert Operation
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General turm for a 'clandestine operation' legally carried by, or on
behalf of, a government body. In the US, covert operations are typically
carried out by the CIA. The expression 'covert' is sometime expanded to
include secret service work, VIP protection, surveillance and eavesdropping.
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Crib
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Known or suspected part of the plain text
(Wikipedia)
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Cryptanalysis
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Codebreaking
The study of methods for obtaining the meaning of encrypted information,
without access to the secret information that is normally required to do so.
(Wikipedia)
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Crypto
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Cryptography
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Cryptography
|
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Common expression to refer to cryptographic equipment (cipher machines)
and/or the process of encrypting and decrypting information.
(Wikipedia)
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CTAK
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Cipher Text Auto-Key
Cryptographic logic that uses previous cipher text to generate a key stream.
(Depricated terminology, superceeded by CFB)
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DCL
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Direct Communications Link
Official name of the Washington-Moscow Hotline.
(More...)
(Wikipedia)
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DES
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Data Encryption Standard
DES was an important encryption algorithm for the protection of electronic
data, developed by IBM in the US, in the early 1970s. After a small modification,
it was approved by the NSA and the US national Bureau of Standards (NBS) for
use as an official FIPS in 1977.
DES has a key length of 56 bits.
By today's standards DES is no longer considered secure enough for most
applications and has been superceeded by Triple DES and AES.
(Wikipedia)
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DF
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Direction Finding
When a radio transmitter is on the air for a sufficiently long period
of time, it is possible to trace its position.
This is often done by using directional antennas and plotting the angle
from two or three intercept stations on a map.
It is also possible to a doppler-based antenna system for mobile searches,
and to use a simple field-streng indicator to find transmitters in close
proximity.
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DNS
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Direct NICS Subscriber
Direct subscriber of the NATO Integrated Communications System (NICS).
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DNVT
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Digital Non-secure Voice Terminal
Unit for unencrypted digital voice communication (phone).
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DSVT
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Digital Subscriber Voice Terminal
Unit for encrypted (secure) voice communication (phone),
such as the American KY-68.
Interoperable (in non-secure mode) with the DNVT.
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DTMF
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Dual Tone Multy-Frequency
In-band tone system used for telecommunication signalling over analog telephone
lines. The system uses 8 different tones, two of which are sent simultaneously. It is mainly used in push-button phones to produce the numbers 0-9 plus '*" and
'#'. Some keypads are capable of sending A, B, C and D as well.
(Wikipedia)
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DVL
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Direct Voice Link
Voice communication link, running on the same network, but not part of,
the Washington-Moscow Hotline.
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ECB
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Electronic Codebook
A block cipher mode in which a plaintext block is used directly as input
to the encryption algorithm and the resultant output block is used directly
as cipher text.
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ECCM
|
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Electronic Counter Counter Measures
Equipment used in secure communications (COMSEC) to protect against
counter measures, such as eavesdropping, interception, direction finding,
etc. Frequency Hopping (FH) is an example of ECCM.
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EKMS
|
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Electronic Key Management System
NSA-endorsed program
for COMSEC key management.
(Wikipedia)
(Other)
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EMU
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Electronic Message Unit
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ERF
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Electronic Remote fill
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FH
|
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Frequency Hopping
Method for quicky changing the frequency (channel) during a transmission
in a seemingly random order. This is done as an electronic counter counter
measure (ECCM), to protect the conversation against eavesdropping and
interception by the enemy.
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Fill
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Key-fill
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Filler
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Key fill device
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FIPS
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Federal Information Processing Standard
(Wikipedia)
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FK
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Fill Key
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FNBDT
|
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Future Narrow Band Digital Terminal
Later renamed to Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol (SCIP)
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GC&CS
|
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Government Code and Cipher School
British code breaking organisation during WWII.
Now called GCHQ.
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GCHQ
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Government Communications Headquarters
British intelligence agency.
(More...)
(Wikipedia)
(Website)
(Other)
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HMGCC
|
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Her Majesty's Government Communications Centre
British development centre for secure communications, hardware and software.
Mainly aimed at HM Government use, both in the UK and overseas.
Also known as Hanslope Park.
(Wikipedia)
(Website)
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ICOM
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Integrated Communications Security
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INFOSEC
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Information Security
(Wikipedia)
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ISK
|
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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.
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ISOS
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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.
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IVSN
|
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Initial Voice Switched Network
Analog switched telephone network developed by NATO in the mid-1970s.
It was used for unclassified voice calls throughout NATO and was discontinued
in 2005.
(More...)
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KAK
|
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Key-auto-key
Cryptographic logic using a previous key to produce a key.
(Depricated terminology, superceeded by OFB)
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KDC
|
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Key Distribution Center
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KEK
|
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Key Encryption Key
Special cryptographic key used to send new keys over-the-air (OTAR).
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Key
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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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Key-fill
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Loading of a crypto-device with key material. Commonly achieved by using
a so-caller key fill device (or: filler) to distribute key
material. (More...)
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Key fill device
|
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Device used for the distribution of cryptographic material (keys).
The device is loaded by a Key Generator, and can dump its contents to
a crypto-device or another key fill device. (More...)
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LPC
|
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Linear Predictive Coding
A method for digitizing human speech by analyzing and storing
specific characteristics of it, in such a way that an intelligible
signal can be reconstructed later. LPC-10E was a US Government
standard that was used at 2400 baud on all STU-III terminals.
(Wikipedia)
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MERCS
|
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Merchant Ship Crypto System
Code name of a NATO evaluation in 1975 to search for small portable
text-based cryptographic devices. Examples of MERCS equipment are
the hand-held PACE
and the initial version of the portable
Picoflex.
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MERSEX
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MERCS
|
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Mixer
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A cipher machine based on the Vernam Cipher principle,
adding a key-stream to the plain-text stream in order to obtain the
cipher-text. The plain-text is derived from the cipher-text by
adding the key-stream once again. The key-stream is often generated
by a random number generator (OTP).
With Teletype, the key-stream was often implemented
as an OTT.
(More...)
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NATO
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(Wikipedia)
(Website)
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NBS
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NIST
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NICS
|
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NATO Integrated Communications System
|
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NIST
|
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National Institute of Standards and Technology
Non-regulatory body of the US Department of Commerce for the
promotion and development of measurement science, standards and technology.
From 1901 to 1988 known as the National Bureau of Standards (NBS).
(Wikipedia)
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NMCC
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National Military Command Center
Command center of the Pentagon, responsible for operation,
maintenance and testing of the Hotline (DCL).
Also the primary terminal of the US side of
the Hotline.
Located at the Pentagon in Washington.
(More...)
(Wikipedia)
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NRO
|
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National Reconnaissance Office
Responsible for the design, building and operation of the spy satellites
of the US government. Based in Chantilly, Virginia (USA).
(Other)
(Wikipedia)
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NSA
|
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National Security Agency
America's national cryptologic organisation, responsible for US
information security. Home of the American codemakers and codebreakers.
(More...)
(Other)
(Wikipedia)
(Website)
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OFB
|
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Output feedback
a block cipher mode that modifies ECB mode to operate on
plaintext segments of variable length lesss than or equal to the
block length.
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OSS
|
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Office of Strategic Services
Clandestine US organisation for infiltration and sabotage activities
during WWII. The predecessor of the current CIA.
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OTAN
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NATO
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OTAR
|
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Over-The-Air Rekeying
Common expression for the method of updating encryption keys 'over the
air' in a two-way radio system. It is sometimes called Over-The-Air
Transfer (OTAT).
(Wikipedia)
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OTP
|
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One-Time Pad
A truely random sequence of numbers or letters, used for the encryption and
decription of a text,of which only two copies exist and that is only used once.
Once the message is exchanged, the two copies of the OTP are destroyed.
(More...)
(Wikipedia)
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OTT
|
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One-Time Tape
Similar to OTP but based on the use of punched paper tape
in combination with Teletype (TTY, Telex) machines. Cipher machines using
OTT, are often called mixer machines.
(More...)
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RACE
|
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Rapid Automatic Cryptographic Equipment
Acronym used for the NATO KL-51 cipher machine
that was used for NATO CEROFF communication alongside
the Philips Aroflex.
RACE was manufactured by
Standard Telefon og Kabelfabrik A/S
in Norway.
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RTTY
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Radio Teletype
TTY over a radio link.
(Wikipedia)
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SC
|
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Single Channel
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SCIP
|
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Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol
Universal communication protocol which doesn't depend on the bandwidth
of the underlying channel. Existing US secure voice terminals are being
replaced by SCIP or are being made SCIP-compatible.
(More...)
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SECAN
|
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Military Committee Communications Security & Evaluation Agency (Washington)
|
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SHAPE
|
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Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Headquarters of the Allied Command Operations (ACO),
one of NATO's
two strategic military commands.
(Website)
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SIGINT
|
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Signals Intelligence
Intelligence-gathering by interception of signals. This can be communications
(COMINT), other electronic signals (ELINT) or a combination of both.
SIGINT is often related to encypted signals and may involve
cryptanalysis.
(Wikipedia)
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SINCGARS
|
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Single Ground and Airborne Radio System
Combat Radio Network used by the US Armed Forces
and part of NATO.
(More...)
(Wikipedia)
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SIS
|
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Secret Intelligence Service
|
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SOE
|
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Special Operations Executive
British Special Forces active in clandestine operations behind enemy
lines during WWII.
(Wikipedia)
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Spread Spectrum
|
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An electronic counter counter measure (ECCM), similar to
Frequency Hopping but with much faster hopping over a wider range
of channels, effectively using an entire band and resulting a 'noise'-style
spectrum.
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STE
|
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Secure Terminal Equipment
A range of systems for secure voice and data communications over a variety
of networks, including PSTN, ISDN and TRI-TAC.
(More..)
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STU
|
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Secure Terminal Unit
Standard for secure voice and data conversations via standard
analogue telephone networks, developed and maintained by the
US National Security Agency (NSA). There are three generations
of STU devices, known as STU-I,
STU-II and
STU-III. STU was later succeeded
by Secure Terminal Equipment (STE).
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TED
|
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Trunk Encryption Device
Encryption device for bundled (multiplexed) data streams, generally consisting
of voice and (computer) data.
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TEMPEST
|
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Codename, referring to (the study of) unwanted compromising emanations.
This includes the emission of unintentional and unwanted
intelligence-bearing signals.
If such signals were intercepted and analyzed, they might disclose sensitive
information. In cryptography, the interceptor might be able to reconstruct
(part of) the plain text. (Wikipedia)
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TROL
|
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Tape Rotorless Off-Line
Code name for a NATO evaluation in 1962 in order to stimulate the
development of rotor-less machines, based an an electronic key generator.
TROL-developments were carried out, for example
by Philips
and STK.
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TSK
|
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Transmission Security Key
Encrypted data for creating an FH pattern.
|
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TTY
|
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Teletype
Method for sending written (printed) messages over a wire or radio link,
using a 5-bit digital code (mostly BAUDOT).
(Wikipedia)
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Ultra
|
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Top Scret Ultra
|
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Vernam Cipher
|
|
Method for obtaining the cipher-text from a plain-text and vice versa,
by adding a key-stream, using module-2 addition
(XOR).
The process can be reversed by adding the key-stream once again,
effectively resulting in a symmetric cipher.
(More...)
(Wikipedia)
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Vocoder
|
|
Voice Coder, or Speech Digitizer
Method for converting (analogue) human voice signals into
digital data, in such a way that it can be used for digital
storage and/or transmission. Vocoders are also used to digitize
speech before encryption.
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WHCA
|
|
White House Communications Agency
Official communications agency of the White House. Also responsible
for operating the secundary terminal of the US side of the
Hotline (DCL).
(Website)
(Wikipedia)
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TEK
|
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Traffic Encryption Key
Cryptographic key used the encryption of messages (traffic).
|
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XOR
|
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Exclusive OR
Binary operation that produces a result if exactly one if it inputs is true.
As this process can be reversed by applying it once again, it is often used
in cryptography,
e.g. in the Vernam Cipher.
In mathematics, the XOR operation is called modulo-2 addition.
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XX
|
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Double-Cross System
The Double-Cross System, or XX System was a secret anti-espionage
and deception operation of MI5 during WWII.
Nazi spies in the UK and elsewhere were caught and turned,
so that they could be used to feed false intelligence to the Germans.
The operation was led by the Double-Cross Committee, also known
as the XX Committee or the Twenty Committee.
(Wikipedia)
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ZEROIZE
|
|
General expression for deleting the cryptographic keys and other variables
from an encryption device in case of a compromise or seizure.
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