Did a broken random number generator in Cuba help expose an espionage network?
A cryptologic mystery involving a broken random number generator in Cuba exposes a Russian espionage network. Anomalies in encrypted shortwave radio transmissions lead to the arrest of Russian spies, highlighting vulnerabilities in one-time pad ciphers.
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In a blog post by Matt Blaze, a cryptologic mystery involving a broken random number generator in Cuba potentially aiding the exposure of a Russian espionage network is discussed. The post delves into the use of encrypted shortwave radio transmissions, specifically focusing on the espionage tradecraft of sending messages to covert agents abroad using a method called a "one time pad" cipher. The post highlights an anomaly noticed in the transmissions from the Cuban numbers station, where some messages lacked the digit 9, potentially revealing dummy fill traffic. The FBI's exploitation of this error, correlating empty message slots with the suspect couple's absence, contributed to the arrest and expulsion of the Russian illegals network. The narrative underscores the operational challenges and vulnerabilities associated with one-time pads, cautioning against overreliance on their provable security due to the stringent operational requirements they entail. The story serves as a cautionary tale against assuming the infallibility of supposedly "unbreakable" encryption methods, emphasizing the practical complexities of secure communication in espionage contexts.
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8 commentsGiven how this ex-agent has disgraced himself by his conduct and during his Congress testimony, I wouldn't trust anything he says.
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