Cryptos

[Jase]

well thats it ... need to be a math major or cryptology expert for the new levels ... hope we at least get a certificate at the end

EDIT ... found a java hill cipher decrypter ... except i dont know how to use it

http://www.eecg.toronto.edu/~bradel/projects/cryptography/

[Jase]

heres is an easier one (i think)

http://louisville.edu/~ahdeso01/applets/Hill.html

[kuang]

I might be making a bit of progress here - just trying combinations. Look at the way the hill cipher works - it seems that the key can only be a square number above 1, so 4, 9, 16, 25, etc

EDIT:

Cracked it!

Use the first decoder that Jase found - the second doesn't seem to give the right results. You need to work out the keyword and convert it to numbers (with a=0) and then enter these numbers in a grid form in the encryption array box. Click the '>>' arrow button and it'll create the inverse for you. Paste the ciphertext into the ciphertext box, and click 'decrypt'.

[Jase]

so i am just guessing here but the key is/maybe 9 numbers long ... i can only come up with 8 or 11.

EDIT ... just found a key ... trying now

[Jase]

i keep getting the array cannot be created

[Jase]

i tried all the first letters as it makes a 25 x 25 grid ... and dont know about jacks numbers

[kuang]

Sorry folks, been at work all day and couldn't get to the site

Ok, here's a hint for you:

the key is indeed related to the word rhyme, but in two ways - it's IN a rhyme, and it DOES rhyme with one other important word in this problem..

In terms of setting up the key matrix, you need to decide how long the key word is, turn it into numbers, and then type it into the box with spaces to separate those numbers.

eg. if your key was a b c d e f g h i, the grid would be

0 1 2
3 4 5
6 7 8

If you get the 'can't be created' error it's because that matrix doesn't have a mathematical inverse, and therefore the keyword you chose isn't right. You need to set the 'cipher size' box to the dimensions of the key, eg a 4 letter key fits into a 2x2 box, so the size is 2; a 9 letter key needs a 3x3 box so the size would be 3, etc.

If you still need a bit more of a tip..

You need to make sure the cipher size (ie. the dimensions of the key matrix) is set to 2 in the applet...

[kuang]

Hmm.. the process should be

* use the bigger, more complex applet
* set the cipher size to match the key length you want to try
* type the encryption key in the left box
* click the arrows to convert it to a decryption key in the right hand box
* if it worked, enter the ciphertext in the right hand lower box
* click decrypt and the plaintext will appear in the lower left hand box

[onewingedangel3]

i don't get it

how do I find the keyword? I know the rhyme is J*** and J*** but where is the key?

[onewingedangel3]

got it

[kuang]

It's a good idea not to give anything away outside of a spoiler, in case it ruins it for people who are still to work through this puzzle.

Gentsbabe: You're not done yet - you need to look at the answer and think laterally to find out where to REALLY go

[onewingedangel3]

this makes me very angry. I got the answer, and It doesn't work.
Kuang, I've NEVER been good at thinking laterally! lol

[kuang]

We've already had one puzzle where the apparent answer was only a pointer to the real one.. remember the one that got us to South America? This is just the same - you need to look at the answer you get from the cipher, and work out what it might be pointing to.

[onewingedangel3]

Kuang, no I don't remember...what was the url for the level before south america.

ugh, it's like a cipher in a cipher o_0
It's Like hiding something at any location in texas and telling them to find it, or else they will die in a slow and horrific manner. Then once they find it, they have to figure out the ten digit numerical password.

One question, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PORTUGUESE PEOPLE? They used to be everywhere! No longer...

[kuang]

it was

21818, 'take the money and run'