Secrets of Cryptology: Insights into Encrypted History!

Secrets of Cryptology: Insights into Encrypted History!

On June 2, 2025, the science magazine Rubin will devote its latest issue to the topic of secrets. The focus is on preserving, sharing, protecting and encrypting secrets. The introduction points out that secrets can be both self-empowering and lead to uncertainty and isolation.

This ambivalent nature of secrets is particularly evident in challenging situations, such as deciding how to deal with terminal illnesses. The debate over secrets also raises questions about whether and how information can be unintentionally revealed through careless choice of words. In addition to social aspects, the issue also sheds light on the technical dimensions of secrecy.

Encryption techniques in focus

Rubin reports on various methods of encryption that date back to ancient times. Historical cryptology, which began with the invention of writing in ancient Egypt, is also the subject of the recent “ 6th International Conference on Historical Cryptology (HistoCrypt 2023) “, which dealt with secret runes, steganography and modern methods such as zero-knowledge.

The particular relevance of cryptology is also underlined by its role in the digital world and in the development of the first computer. Historical cryptography deals with encrypted texts, encryption and decryption methods, and the devices used for these purposes. A BMBF project entitled “ 3D cipher “, for example, examines encryption devices from the cryptological collection of the German Museum in Munich, which opened the permanent exhibition Image-Written-Code in 2022.

Modern developments in cryptography

The development of cryptography can be roughly divided into three phases: from hand encryption through the use of special machines to computer-based cryptography, which has dominated since around 1970. Historical developments, such as the Caesar cipher in ancient times, are now complemented by modern approaches such as the RSA cryptosystem, which enables asymmetric encryption.

One of the achievements in recent history is the development of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) by Phil Zimmermann in 1991, which became available to the general public and has continued to gain importance today. Quantum cryptography, an emerging field, uses quantum mechanical effects for secure communication and represents one of the most innovative developments in cryptography.

The multitude of historical and modern procedures becomes particularly interesting in connection with the discussion about secrets in Rubin's current edition. The magazine is available as both a free newsletter and a print edition, and all articles are freely accessible online.

Overall, Rubin's edition illustrates how diverse the topic of secrets is - from personal and social implications to complex technical systems that protect our digital communication.