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Crypto Challenge #1 (11/21)

 
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Three different cryptograms, all against the same cipher with different offsets. Bonus points for recovering the basic cipher (not offset), hat, and key. Instructions can be found here.
1. ie oxsc hlb yglbg: nyjy hbulzswsrp lbweg xbvboazb gbyxul yzv xbguib
2. ocj xumgfoaobpxo vidi xpooisp opgdump siujujs xigwpb ocyyfgb io shfeih-mhioo xpooisujs xukkhpligp obijkigk
3. mitpjw tsq ces xiww qwfwjmlwic ximy limlibwdtih uibl

[This message has been edited by Jason Menard (edited November 27, 2001).]
 
Jason Menard
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Not sure if it was a case of too hard or no interest, but here are the answers anyway. Remember the answers are found by placing the offset cipher against itself.
Key: borland
Hat: jbuilder
Cipher: ofqznjvdkwlhtbepyaiucmxrgs
1. (Offset: 1) Up from the Ashes: Java Technology Helps Redefine Search and Rescue
2. (Offset: -1) Sun Microsystems Java Message Service Gaining Market Support As Global class Messaging Middleware Standard
3. (Offset: 5) Oracle and Sun Free Developers From Proprietary Grip

These were all headlines on Sun's Java page, or in their press section.
[This message has been edited by Jason Menard (edited November 28, 2001).]
 
Jason Menard
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Your best bet is to not worry about the hat and key. Just try to solve the cryptogram. It requires educated guessing and substitution. For example, see the fourth word of the third cryptogram ends in 'ww'. Well, in english, that 'ww' probably equates to a 'll' or 'ee' or 'ss'. In the second cryptogram you can see the doublet 'oo' in a couple of places, plus 'o' is a high frequency letter, and is at the beginning of one word, so 's' would be a good guess. Also notice the distinctive pattern formed by the word 'java'. Vowels are also a good place to look, since they are often the second letter of a word.
Just takes practice and patience is all.
[This message has been edited by Jason Menard (edited November 28, 2001).]
 
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Jason,
Don't be so quick to give the answer. It's not a cute little riddle that will be answered in 20 minutes. (nothing against riddles of course) Give a week or so for people to find time to work on cracking it.
 
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Agreed, perhaps make this a weekly feature rather than a daily one.
It is very interesting but takes an awful lot of thought and time, most of us access this site from work and we need time to go home and think about it.
 
Jason Menard
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Okie doke. I posted #2 and will hold off for a bit before posting the answer.
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