Dear all,There are extensive tutorials on SR on how to set up and maintain anonymous internet connections and encode your messages with GPG which is right and good if you haven't read these, please do so.That said, I have always had a fascination with older methods of encrypting messages which while not as secure as AES Encryption make for extremely interesting and useful knowledge.Why would you want to know about such archaic methods of secret communication?Firstly, if you luck runs out and you end up in prison, this will in all likelihood be the only way you have of communicating with other inmates and people on the outside safely.Secondly, if like me you have a large amount of very long and complicated passwords, and can't carry them around inside your head, you can write them down in a coded format in such a way to make it very difficult for anyone who comes across your list to get into your hidden files.Without further ado, allow me to introduce you to my favourite - the good old "Book Cipher". An extremely simple yet powerful way to protect any message you send.Firstly you and your friend must agree on a book or piece of text to use to create your cipher. (Obviously if you're using this as a way to safely write down your password don't tell anybody what book you're choosing!).You need to think about this carefully. If you want to use this method to communicate with a lot of people you might want to choose an easily obtainable book like the same edition of a Bible or a phone directory. If it's just for you or only a couple of people it's better to find an out of print book, or even write a text yourself on a random subject and keep it to yourself.Next you can use the book to write your message. Simply begin reading the text and count along the words until you come across the one you want and write it down on a separate piece of paper. So if for example you were to use this text as your key:QuoteI decided not to meet him. Admittedly, I felt a connection between him and me when we met. At first glance he seemed to be everything I was looking for in a life partner. He was tall, charming and had a six figure salary. I sometimes wonder if I might have been able to work out his true nature but we can all be clever in hindsight. By the time I realised what he really was, it was too late...Let's say the message you want to write is : QuoteMeet me at six. Might be late.You would write down:5 - 15 - 19 - 42 - 50 - 64 - 80Many people find it difficult to count off words individually and use a Bible or Almanac instead, both of which have numbered passages of text. Feel free to devise your own system - the more personal it is to you, the safer you are!V.