Cryptology App for Students to Bolster UK Cybersecurity: Intelligence

The UK intelligence hopes to raise a generation of cyber warriors good at cryptography. For this purpose, the GCHQ has launched Cryptoy, an interactive cryptology application for students.

MOSCOW, December 12 (Sputnik) — A new cryptology application targeted at young students developed by the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) is expected to help bolster the country's cybersecurity, Robert Hannigan, the intelligence organization's director, said Friday.

"Building maths and cyber skills in the younger generation is essential for maintaining the cyber security of the UK and growing a vibrant digital economy," Hannigan was quoted as saying by the GCHQ website.

He described the Cryptoy application as an interactive way for students and teachers at school to study cryptography and increase their interest in the subject. The application helps users to better understand a variety of encryption techniques and provides historical background on the subject.

#GCHQ launches #Cryptoy app to educate code-cracking newbies http://t.co/GFiGx1QdyU pic.twitter.com/pQqpO2P4iI

— The Drum (@TheDrum) 12 декабря 2014

"I hope it will inspire further study of this key topic, which has played such an important part in our past and is an invaluable part of our future," Hannigan said.

According to the organization, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude was also pleased with the new "creative solution in the hunt for expertise."

Cryptoy was developed by industrial placement students at GCHQ and was presented at several science fairs. It is available for Android tablets exclusively at the moment, with iPad version expected in 2015.