Secret codes used by the forthcoming European satellite navigation system, Galileo, have been cracked by American scientists, casting doubt on European Union promises that the £2.3 billion project will pay for itself through commercial fees.
Japanese scientists have come up with a method for encrypting messages using quasars, which emit radio waves and are thought to be powered by black holes.
Nazi code that eluded the best cryptographers the Allied forces had to offer during World War II has been solved by an amateur codebreaker with the assistance of a network of computers.
The M4 Message Breaking Project is harnessing the power of distributed computing to crack a few remaining Enigma intercepts from WWII. The first intercept has already been broken and an interpretation posted.
Australian scientists believe they have developed an unbreakable information code to stop hackers, using a diamond, a kitchen microwave oven and an optical fibre.
The Secret Service, inspired by the popularity and success of distributed computing projects like SETI@Home program, is using a distributed computing program on about 4,000 of its office computers to crack encrypted documents critical for its investigations.
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University have cracked the RFID security system behind the new "immobilizer" automobile security system.
Stephen Page argues that given the capability of quantum computers to invalidate cryptography techniques, society should "create safeguards, standards and laws to prevent people from using quantum computers to wreak destruction."
Code-makers could be on the verge of winning their ancient arms race with code-breakers. After 20 years of research, an encryption process is emerging that is considered unbreakable because it employs the mind-blowing laws of quantum physics.
British researchers say they are close to producing an off-the-shelf system that exploits quantum physics to create a secure communications channel.