The VENONA ProjectThe VENONA ProjectThe Early Years of the NSAThe Early Years of the NSA

Stef Kovacic and Sam LevineStef Kovacic and Sam Levine

http://www.nsa.gov

The Early YearsThe Early Years

The VENONA Project was a program founded in The VENONA Project was a program founded in 1943 by the U.S. Signal Intelligence Service, also 1943 by the U.S. Signal Intelligence Service, also known as Arlington Hall.known as Arlington Hall.

VENONA was created as a secret program specializing in the investigation of VENONA was created as a secret program specializing in the investigation of Soviet communications and in the search of espionage activitySoviet communications and in the search of espionage activity

Like the founding of Bletchley Park, Arlington Hall assembled a group of language Like the founding of Bletchley Park, Arlington Hall assembled a group of language and mathematics professors and experts to form the VENONA teamand mathematics professors and experts to form the VENONA team

Key FiguresKey Figures

Gene GrabeelGene GrabeelLieutenant Richard HallockLieutenant Richard HallockCecil PhillipsCecil PhillipsMeredith GardnerMeredith Gardner

Meredith Gardner

NSA “Hall of Honor” 2004

Google Images: www.nsa.gov

Initial DiscoveriesInitial Discoveries

Upon initial investigation of the message traffic, Upon initial investigation of the message traffic, the VENONA team discovered five code systems:the VENONA team discovered five code systems:

1.1. ““Trade representatives and the Soviet Government Purchasing Commission.Trade representatives and the Soviet Government Purchasing Commission.2.2. Diplomats, i.e., members of the diplomatic corps in the conduct of legitimate Diplomats, i.e., members of the diplomatic corps in the conduct of legitimate

Soviet embassy and consular business.Soviet embassy and consular business.3.3. KGB, the Soviet espionage agency, headquarters in Moscow Residencies KGB, the Soviet espionage agency, headquarters in Moscow Residencies

(stations) abroad.(stations) abroad.4.4. GRU, the Soviet Army General Staff Intelligence Directorate and attaches GRU, the Soviet Army General Staff Intelligence Directorate and attaches

abroad.abroad.5.5. GRU Naval, the Soviet Naval Intelligence Staff.”GRU Naval, the Soviet Naval Intelligence Staff.”

http://math.ucsd.edu http://math.ucsd.edu

The Codes and Methods of The Codes and Methods of EncryptionEncryption

These Soviet messages were encrypted via a two step These Soviet messages were encrypted via a two step “Super-Encipherment” process:“Super-Encipherment” process:

1.1. CodebookCodebook [four-digit or five-digit numbers “codegroups”] [four-digit or five-digit numbers “codegroups”]

2.2. ““Super-EnciphermentSuper-Encipherment”” [a five-digit key from [a five-digit key from keybook, a keybook, a list of list of “random” numbers possessed by both sender and recipient]“random” numbers possessed by both sender and recipient]

> a unique starting point for the key was chosen from the > a unique starting point for the key was chosen from the keybook for each individual message, communicated recipient via keybook for each individual message, communicated recipient via “an indicator” in the message itself. “an indicator” in the message itself.

MORE Codes and Methods of MORE Codes and Methods of EncryptionEncryption

For ensured security:For ensured security:““One Time Pad”- One Time Pad”- • • sequence of keys that would be sequence of keys that would be

used only onceused only once

•• this “super-enciphered” message was a string this “super-enciphered” message was a string of four- or five-digit numbers of four- or five-digit numbers “without “without any discernible pattern and without any any discernible pattern and without any relationship to any other message sent relationship to any other message sent in the same system”.in the same system”.

http://math.ucsd.edu

EVEN MORE Codes and Methods EVEN MORE Codes and Methods of Encryptionof Encryption

Use of “Covernames”Use of “Covernames”

““Covername -->True NameCovername -->True NameKAPITAN KAPITAN -->--> President Roosevelt President RooseveltANTENNA/LIBERAL ANTENNA/LIBERAL -->--> Julius Rosenberg Julius RosenbergARSENAL ARSENAL -->--> U.S. War Department U.S. War DepartmentTHE BANK THE BANK -->--> U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of StateENORMOZ ENORMOZ -->--> The Manhattan Project/A-bomb The Manhattan Project/A-bombANTON ANTON -->--> Leonid Kvasnikov, KGB chief of A-bomb Leonid Kvasnikov, KGB chief of A-bomb

espionage in KGB's New York City office”espionage in KGB's New York City office”http://www.nsa.gov/venona

Breaking the CodesBreaking the Codes

Late 1943Late 1943 Lieutenant Richard Hallock breakthrough with the Soviet Trade Lieutenant Richard Hallock breakthrough with the Soviet Trade

messages messages

> IBM cards and “double hits”> IBM cards and “double hits” Misuse of the “One Time Pads”Misuse of the “One Time Pads”

February 1946February 1946 Meredith Gardner and “spell”/”endspell” indicatorsMeredith Gardner and “spell”/”endspell” indicators Phillips and duplicate keys- trade and diplomatic systemsPhillips and duplicate keys- trade and diplomatic systems

> duplicates between trade and KGB systems> duplicates between trade and KGB systems

Code Breaking DiscoveriesCode Breaking Discoveries July 1995- FirstJuly 1995- First public release of deciphered VENONA traffic- 49 messages-Soviet public release of deciphered VENONA traffic- 49 messages-Soviet

espionage messages about U.S. atomic bomb research (The Manhattan Project), espionage messages about U.S. atomic bomb research (The Manhattan Project), and the Rosenbergs.and the Rosenbergs.

July 1995-SecondJuly 1995-Second public release- “KGB messages between the New York and public release- “KGB messages between the New York and Moscow between1942-1943.” Moscow between1942-1943.”

March 1996-ThirdMarch 1996-Third public release- 500+ messages- KGB communication between public release- 500+ messages- KGB communication between Washington and MoscowWashington and Moscow

July 1996-FourthJuly 1996-Fourth public release- 850+ messages- KGB/ GRU activity in San public release- 850+ messages- KGB/ GRU activity in San Francisco, Mexico City, New York, and WashingtonFrancisco, Mexico City, New York, and Washington

October 1996-FifthOctober 1996-Fifth public release- 1000+ messages- “KGB, GRU, and Naval GRU public release- 1000+ messages- “KGB, GRU, and Naval GRU messages around Europe to and from locations in Europe, Latin America, and messages around Europe to and from locations in Europe, Latin America, and Australia, as well as some messages of non-intelligence organizations: the Soviet Australia, as well as some messages of non-intelligence organizations: the Soviet Foreign Ministry and the Trade Ministry.” Foreign Ministry and the Trade Ministry.”

http://www.nsa.gov

Recovered DocumentsRecovered Documents

Documents from:http://www.nsa.gov

May 24th, 1944 - KGB communication about President Roosevelt’s deteriorating health

“…They are afraid for KAPITAN’s health—after more than a month’s leave he has once more gone on leave…”

Recovered DocumentsRecovered Documents

Documents from:http://www.nsa.gov

September 21st, 1944 –

KGB communication about the Rosenbergs and Atomic Bomb research:“LIBERAL [ii] recommended the wife of his wife's brother, Ruth GREENGLASS, with a safe flat in view. She is 21 years old, a TOWNSWOMAN [GOROZhANKA] [iii], a GYMNAST [FIZKUL'TURNITsA] [iv] since 1942. She lives on STANTON [STANTAUN] Street. LIBERAL and his wife recommend her as an intelligent and clever girl…

…He is a mechanical engineer and is now working at the ENORMOUS [ENORMOZ] [vi] plant in SANTA FE, New Mexico….

…Ask…LIBERAL about leads from among people who are working on ENOURMOUS and in other technical fields… [i] VIKTOR: Lt. Gen. P. M. FITIN.[ii] LIBERAL: Julius ROSENBERG.[vi] ENORMOZ: Atomic Energy Project.”

VENONA and GCHQVENONA and GCHQ

British Government Communications HeadquartersBritish Government Communications Headquarters

ISCOT programISCOT program

COMINTERN trafficCOMINTERN traffic