Cryptoy
This fun and educational app teaches you about the mysterious world of cryptography. It helps you to understand ciphers and keys, and enables you to create encrypted messages that you can share with your friends.
You'll learn about four encryption techniques:
- Shift
- Substitution
- Vigenère
- Enigma
You'll have a fun and interactive way of building your own messages using each technique, as well as learning the history behind their use.
Once you've created a message, you can share it with your friends and see if they can decrypt it... It's up to you how much help of information you give them!
Cryptoy is brought to you by STEM students sponsored by GCHQ, the UK intelligence agency responsible for providing Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) to Her Majesty's Government. We are also the UK's National Technical Authority for Information Assurance, and provide guidance on the use of technology and encryption.
For more information about inspiring young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) go to http://www.stemnet.org.uk
For more information about the work of GCHQ visit http://www.gchq.gov.uk
Disclaimer
- The Cryptoy App is an educational application made for, and making use of, the Android operating system, which is covered under the Apache License, Version 2.0. Other software used that is also covered under the Apache License, Version 2.0 is TwoWayView and CircularListAdapter.
In using the Cryptoy App, each person who does so (a "User") thereby acknowledges and agrees that their use of the Cryptoy App is entirely at thier own risk, and that it is provided on an "an is" and "as available" basis, without any warranty or representation of any kind, by Her Majesty's Government ("HMG") and with no obligation on HMG to further develop or maintain it. Any use of the Cryptoy App, and of any material obtained through use of it, is at the User's sole discretion and risk, and HMG shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss or damage (of whatever nature) incurred by a User or any other person, arising from or in connection with such use. As far as the law allows, HMG expressly disclaims all warranties and conditions of any kind, whether express or implied, including (but not limited to) any concerning the fitness for purpose of the Cryptoy App.
The App has been tested on the following platforms only:
- Google Nexus 10 (2013)
- Google Nexus 7 (2012)
- Google Nexus 7 (2013)
The App has been tested on versions 4.1.2 through 4.4.2 of the Android operating system only.
The Cryptoy App has been developed under the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiative by HMG sponsored students, and is protected by UK Crown Copyright.
Category : Education
Reviews (21)
Try rotor setting MEU (rotors I II II, rings in AAA position) and encode 'AAAA'. You should get GDXT but you instead get XDTT. This is because the rotor notches are not programmed correctly so the rotors don't move the way an actual Enigma does.
Confusing text says150 billion billion ways to setup (Enigma) is less than 403 million billion (Substitution)?! Reading Wikipedia might be better. Enigma machine setup needs instructions, Not clear what to do with tyre offset. Why is there a change machine option when there is only one machine listed? Need to set up again for every message.
I like the idea of being able to write our own messages in code, but please add a mode where we can attempt to decrypt messages the computer gives (on one of the easy ciphers), would make it a lot more fun
There seem to be a few glitches in the Enigma implementation but they don't spoil what is a fascinating and intriguing app
Brilliant, still needs work, but a brilliant app all the same please add Enigma instructions and in-app sending for codes, and make a Facebook page for it!!!
Makes it possible to try out different coding systems easily. Useful tool to base a fun activity for children on.
It's interesting and fun to use amongst friends, but enigma needs clearer instructions on how to use it.
Great idea. Gets kids invovled and hands on with something that will be an everyday thing in the future.
Pretty fun, but the enigma method doesn't work.
Doesn't support Alcatel One Pop Touch C7
Needs the ability to send the coded message to the recipient from within the app.
This is my type of stuff, love it!
Very interesting content and very creative presentation!
It's great, I'm only 11 but I can already master it
Besides tabs, Please release it for phones too...
Thanks GCHQ!
Very good thanks a lot
We want more!
Loved it.
Hire me
As we move to a computing curriculum, children are learning about cryptography and how to create simple cyphers for themselves using computer programs. However the introductory stages - letter transferance is relatively difficult. The first few activities are really good but for younger children the Enigma needs more explanation - it wasn't as intuitive as some of the other material.