Transposition Ciphers

Transposition Ciphers
By Clayton

In transposition ciphers, messages are kept safe by moving small pieces (letters) of the message around. Here's a quick sample of a transposition cipher. See if you can figure out what transposition method was used in the second row of the message, "top secret." Here's the answer.

t	o	p	s	e	c	r	e	t
o	t	s	p	c	e	e	r	t

To learn about other types of transposition ciphers choose from these links.

Space Cipher

Backward Cipher

Backward & Space Cipher

Picket Fence Cipher

Space Cipher

An easy way to encode a message is to put the spaces in different spots. For example:

The message is: plan sneak attack

The secret code is: pla nsn eak att ack

The message is divided into groups of 2, 3, 4 and 5 letters to make the message harder to decipher. Be sure the person you are sending the message to knows what cipher you are using.

Backward Cipher

Another way of encoding a message is to write it backwards. For example:

The message is: enemy attack

The secret code is: kcatta ymene

Be careful that your message is not the same forward as backwards. For example, don't write "too hot to hoot."

Punctuation makes codes easier to decipher. Don’t use it.

Backward and Space Cipher

The space cipher and the backward cipher are easy to decode, but the backward and space cipher put together is harder. It’s simply doing both. For example:

The message is: Danger come back to base

The secret code is: es abo tkca bemo creg nad

Picket Fence Cipher

To create this cipher, the letters will be written in two rows. Zigzag the letters up and down. Place the first letter in the top row, and the second letter on the bottom row. Continue zigzagging the letters back-and-forth. Count the letters in the message. If there is an odd number, add a dummy letter on the end. For example:

The message is: great danger

g		e		t		a		g		r
	r		a		d		n		e		f

Answer to transposition puzzle: Every two letters were switched with each other. Return to top of page.

Citation

Book

Sarnoff, Jane and Reynold Ruffins. The Code and Cipher Book. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1975.

Image

Copyrighted image of picket fence from "Microsoft Office Online" <http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us&cag=1> (October-March, 2004-2005). Clip art available only to licensed users for non-commercial purposes.