A Typology of Pseudo-Cryptology

Abstract

Cipher and code systems can be classified in many ways, with numerous typologies available for organizing both modern and historical cryptographic systems based on their structure. In this article, I propose a different type of typology. I organize various ciphers and codes into a system based on the confirmability of their alleged or actual solutions. This approach places side by side ciphers (e.g., monoalphabetic and polyalphabetic) that would otherwise seem far apart in terms of encoding techniques, and it highlights methods (e.g., book ciphers) that typically do not play a central role in cryptology classifications. This typology becomes useful when attempting to navigate the flood of sensational new cipher-breaking claims that surface weekly in popular media, helping to form a preliminary opinion on whether a proposed solution is arbitrary and unfounded or well-grounded and deserving of professional trust.