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Cryptography & Ciphers

Lorenz Cipher Processor

Apply Lorenz with explicit key, format, and algorithm settings. Enter the data and key material, choose the parameters, then review the result.

Tool workspace

Your input stays in this browser.

Add the required input to continue.

Needs input

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Options

Your result appears here

Apply Lorenz with explicit key, format, and algorithm settings. Enter the data and key material, choose the parameters, then review the result.

This tool runs open-source code from CyberChef by GCHQ (Apache License 2.0). See open-source credits.

Lorenz Cipher Processor uses teleprinter wheel cipher simulation to process the supplied input. It converts supported text through the selected Lorenz wheel patterns and returns plaintext notation or ITA2 symbols.

It converts supported text through the selected Lorenz wheel patterns and returns plaintext notation or ITA2 symbols. Processing runs in the browser for this catalog category, so the result depends on the supplied bytes and settings. Processing runs in the browser.

This tool performs the selected algorithm locally; it does not provide application trust or key management.

Instructions

  1. Provide text or data for this tool.
  2. Keep the same model, lug pattern, and wheel starts for the receiving operation. This applies to Lorenz Cipher Processor.
  3. Select Receive when reversing a Send fixture. This applies to Lorenz Cipher Processor.

Example

Input: Use "HELLO", Model SZ40, KH Pattern, Mode Send, and Plaintext input/output.

Settings: Lorenz Cipher Processor: Models SZ40, SZ42a, and SZ42b have different stepping rules. Wheel starts use individual ranges; ITA2 format controls teleprinter symbol notation.

Result: It converts supported text through the selected Lorenz wheel patterns and returns plaintext notation or ITA2 symbols. Processing runs in the browser for this catalog category, so the result depends on the supplied bytes and settings.

Limits

  • Lorenz Cipher Processor: The teleprinter alphabet does not preserve arbitrary Unicode text.
  • Lorenz Cipher Processor: A mismatched wheel pattern cannot be corrected merely by changing the output format.

Questions

What input does Lorenz Cipher Processor accept?

Lorenz Cipher Processor accepts text. The Lorenz SZ40/42 cipher attachment was a WW2 German rotor cipher machine with twelve rotors which attached in-line between remote teleprinters. It used the Vernam cipher with two groups of five rotors (named the psi(ψ) wheels and chi(χ) wheels at Bletchley Park) to create two pseudorandom streams of five bits, encoded in ITA2, which were XOR added to the plaintext. Two other rotors, dubbed the mu(μ) or motor wheels, could hold up the stepping of the psi wheels meaning they stepped intermittently. Each rotor has a different number of cams/lugs around their circumference which could be set active or inactive changing the key stream. Three models of the Lorenz are emulated, SZ40, SZ42a and SZ42b and three example wheel patterns (the lug settings) are included (KH, ZMUG & BREAM) with the option to set a custom set using the letter 'x' for active or '.' for an inactive lug. The input can either be plaintext or ITA2 when sending and ITA2 when receiving. To learn more, Virtual Lorenz, an online, browser based simulation of the Lorenz SZ40/42 is available at lorenz.virtualcolossus.co.uk. A more detailed description of this operation can be found here.

Which settings does Lorenz Cipher Processor provide?

Lorenz Cipher Processor provides controls for Model, Wheel Pattern, KH Pattern, ZMUG Pattern, BREAM Pattern, No Pattern, Custom, KT-Schalter, Mode, Send, Receive, Input Type, Output Type, ITA2 Format, Ψ1 start (1-43), Ψ2 start (1-47), Ψ3 start (1-51), Ψ4 start (1-53), Ψ5 start (1-59), Μ37 start (1-37), Μ61 start (1-61), Χ1 start (1-41), Χ2 start (1-31), Χ3 start (1-29), Χ4 start (1-26), Χ5 start (1-23), Ψ1 lugs (43), Ψ2 lugs (47), Ψ3 lugs (51), Ψ4 lugs (53), Ψ5 lugs (59), Μ37 lugs (37), Μ61 lugs (61), Χ1 lugs (41), Χ2 lugs (31), Χ3 lugs (29), Χ4 lugs (26), Χ5 lugs (23).

What does Lorenz Cipher Processor return?

Lorenz Cipher Processor returns text. The Lorenz SZ40/42 cipher attachment was a WW2 German rotor cipher machine with twelve rotors which attached in-line between remote teleprinters. It used the Vernam cipher with two groups of five rotors (named the psi(ψ) wheels and chi(χ) wheels at Bletchley Park) to create two pseudorandom streams of five bits, encoded in ITA2, which were XOR added to the plaintext. Two other rotors, dubbed the mu(μ) or motor wheels, could hold up the stepping of the psi wheels meaning they stepped intermittently. Each rotor has a different number of cams/lugs around their circumference which could be set active or inactive changing the key stream. Three models of the Lorenz are emulated, SZ40, SZ42a and SZ42b and three example wheel patterns (the lug settings) are included (KH, ZMUG & BREAM) with the option to set a custom set using the letter 'x' for active or '.' for an inactive lug. The input can either be plaintext or ITA2 when sending and ITA2 when receiving. To learn more, Virtual Lorenz, an online, browser based simulation of the Lorenz SZ40/42 is available at lorenz.virtualcolossus.co.uk. A more detailed description of this operation can be found here.