Entwicklungsbeginn : |
keine Angaben |
Schlüsselsystem : |
Schlüssellochstreifen |
Arten der Chiffrierverkehre : |
individueller und zirkularer Verkehr |
kryptologische Festigkeit : |
abhängig von der kryptologischen Qualität des
Schlüssellochstrteifens |
Betriebsart : |
Direktchiffrierung |
Übertragungsart der Information : |
Fernschreib 50 Baudot |
Information : |
The M-190 is a cipher machine that is based on the
Vernam principle and belongs therefore to the
mixer-class. It mixes the signal from a clear-text paper
tape with a random number key-tape. In the German Army
the machine was often called LOMI after the
Lorenz Mixer on which the M-190 is based. The machine
belongs to the
One-Time Tape class (OTT), which is based on the
so-called
One-Time Pad (OTP).
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The picture on the right shows the machine with both the
clear-text tape and the key-tape present in the machine.
Before starting transmission, both sides of the
communication link have to ensure that the key-tape is
at the same position.
Note the two large lamps (red and green) that are
prominently visible on the control panel. When the red
light was on, transmission was insecure, but when the
green light was on, the cipher system was enabled and
tranmission was safe. |
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The M-190 in the picture above is shown aside a Siemens
T-100 (teletype) terminal. Both the clear-text tape and
the key-tape are loaded into the machine and are clearly
visible. More images below. Click any of them for a
close-up.
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At the exhibition
Secret Messages held in
Museum Jan Corver
in the Netherlands between October 2008 and February
2009, we had the opportunity to connect two M-190
machines together in a small network. The setup was used
to demonstrate the practical use of OTT equipment to the
audience.
TThe image on the right shows former intercept-operator
Louis van Erck (rear) and Crypto Museum curator Marc
Simons (front) each sitting behind a Siemens T-100,
exchanging messages at typing speed with an M-190.
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