Creating a Challenging Code with Simple Techniques

[cookiemonster]

To get a matrix with determinant 1, just perform elementary row and column operations on any upper triangular matrix with all entries in the main diagonal 1. So start with [[1,a,b,...][0,1,c,d,...][0,0,1,e,f,...]...] and manipulate it until its sufficiently mixed up.

cookiemonster

 

[Pfft]

One of the main problems with codes is that you cannot memorized a code book. You must keep it on hand. If your name is 007, you cannot afford to be caught with the book because it will give away your profession, and if the book is discovered, there is little problem in decoding your messages. One can avoid some of the problems by using a commonly available text, A Jules Verne story for example. Then you can use the page number and a word count on that page to pick out the desired word, but the content of your message is limited to the vocabulary of the code book. If, for example, your book has an excellent vocabulary of electronic terms, what do you do when you must discuss a medical or chemical problem?
The 'Beale Ciphers' written back in 1885 sidestepped some of these problems by using the Declaration of Independence as the key document. The cipher then used the page number and a character count on that page to indicate the enciphered character. Unfortunately, the enciphered message was much longer than the original; however, it was a pretty effective system, only one of three messages shown could be deciphered.

In the end, the real challenge is in cracking the ciphers rather than writing them.

 

[Gokul43201]

I had mentioned the Beale treasure to the dowsers/diviners over at Skepticism & Debunking. They were not especially interested.

And I think, 2 of the 3 Beale letters were cracked. Only the last one, giving the location of the treasure, remains unsolved.

 

[Arsonade]

One of the main problems with codes is that you cannot memorized a code book. You must keep it on hand. If your name is 007, you cannot afford to be caught with the book because it will give away your profession, and if the book is discovered, there is little problem in decoding your messages. One can avoid some of the problems by using a commonly available text, A Jules Verne story for example. Then you can use the page number and a word count on that page to pick out the desired word, but the content of your message is limited to the vocabulary of the code book. If, for example, your book has an excellent vocabulary of electronic terms, what do you do when you must discuss a medical or chemical problem?
The 'Beale Ciphers' written back in 1885 sidestepped some of these problems by using the Declaration of Independence as the key document. The cipher then used the page number and a character count on that page to indicate the enciphered character. Unfortunately, the enciphered message was much longer than the original; however, it was a pretty effective system, only one of three messages shown could be deciphered.

In the end, the real challenge is in cracking the ciphers rather than writing them.

Ya but writing ciphers is more fun lol

Adam

 

[wannabe genius]

you should take the code, and multiply 3 #'s at a time into a 3 by 3 matrix of fractions, then put all the #'s in reverse order. If he get's that one, he's a genius


~wannabe genius

 

[TenaliRaman]

@>?8m2eIt:sHy;21s8 5DAg0n@8Gi2dDA58:>1cA F<8r@eD5Al0?;CCp5mC9DHEi3DDs7 I>42IaI
8= 0G1F7e3@;6A35s0@HuF 7B7e7w0F@ <:2>D;<tF?96En065o;;;@Ad= B5F6@C>91y7h:AF8FW

:D

ENJOY!

-- AI

 

[Gokul43201]

A hint...and a promise that that's not gibberish... ??

 

[TenaliRaman]

My sincere apologies, the last code has an error ... something which i did not notice while i was generating that code ... I have changed the message and here i am giving a new code ...

E8!2!3s964iIh0F9tE B01t:0F0=p4yHEHCGr:1HcAeI10d3?A6; =@67=tFo248;0nB:6nIa651IEc1
@A @IAA;I

If one still requires a hint then here it is
::
My code is nothing
but a clever disguise;
a small amount of curry
with a lot of spice.

Its like searching a haystack
for a pin,
all one wants
is the position it is in.

Simple minds, simple thought.
Simple thoughts are always odd!
Rational expressions there are nought,
that capture the distribution in the pod.

Alas one may get now,
the message that he wants,
but to understand it,
it needs to be reflected upon.

I promise to thee,
its not gibberish.
It probably aint clever,
but certainly not childish.


-- AI