Implementation of Enigma machine using verilog on an FPGA

The Enigma machine was used in the twentieth century for enciphering and deciphering secret messages. It has been implemented on an Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) in this paper. The Enigma machine is kind of poly alphabetic cipher. In other words, even if input is the same letter, output can be a different letter. Therefore, the Enigma machine can not be broken by using easy methods of cryptanalysis as frequency analysis. The Enigma machine in this paper has common properties with the Enigma machine which was used in the Second World War. The only difference is that it has been implemented on an FPGA rather than a mechanical implementation. Verilog hardware description language (HDL) has been used in this implementation.

1. Introduction

The Enigma machine was an electromechanical device and was used for ciphered communication [1]. Arthur Sherbius invented the Enigma machine and he took out his first patent in 1918. Different types of Enigma machines were produced between 1918 and 1938. The German military bought about thirty thousand Enigma machines and these machines had been sent distinctive areas during wars for secret communication. The Enigma machine is known by its fame in the Second World War. Because of breaking Enigma machine, course of events changed during the Second World War. Each type of Enigma machine has different parts. For instance, first Enigma machine which is basic while the Enigma machine which was used the Second World War is complicated. Day by day, the Enigma machines had been improved encryption features.