Cracking Codes with Python - by Al Sweigart (Paperback)

About the Book

"Presents a crash course in Python programming, followed by instructions for making, testing, and hacking classic cipher programs, from the Caesar cipher to public key cryptography and the RSA cipher"--

Book Synopsis

Learn how to program in Python while making and breaking ciphers--algorithms used to create and send secret messages!

After a crash course in Python programming basics, you'll learn to make, test, and hack programs that encrypt text with classical ciphers like the transposition cipher and Vigenère cipher. You'll begin with simple programs for the reverse and Caesar ciphers and then work your way up to public key cryptography, the type of encryption used to secure today's online transactions, including digital signatures, email, and Bitcoin.

Each program includes the full code and a line-by-line explanation of how things work. By the end of the book, you'll have learned how to code in Python and you'll have the clever programs to prove it!

You'll also learn how to:

- Combine loops, variables, and flow control statements into real working programs
- Use dictionary files to instantly detect whether decrypted messages are valid English or gibberish
- Create test programs to make sure that your code encrypts and decrypts correctly
- Code (and hack!) a working example of the affine cipher, which uses modular arithmetic to encrypt a message
- Break ciphers with techniques such as brute-force and frequency analysis

There's no better way to learn to code than to play with real programs. Cracking Codes with Python makes the learning fun!

Review Quotes

"Definitely worth the read even as an experienced Python developer. I learned more about cryptography and even a few new Python tricks."
--Ray Doyle, The Ethical Hacker Network

"I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn Python/programming and is interested in security or puzzles."
--Jeanne Boyarsky, Code Ranch

"A fantastic programming and cryptography course for any high school-aged child."
--The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

About the Author

Al Sweigart is a professional software developer who teaches programming to kids and adults. He is the author of Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, and Scratch Programming Playground, also from No Starch Press. His programming tutorials can be found at inventwithpython.com.