Resources

Here is a list of resources for the challenges: All of the ciphers used in the challenge are listed here, but not all ciphers listed here are part of the challenge! If you are struggling with a particular challenge, make sure to come visit this page! There are also many online tools and resources that you can find on these ciphers, using search engines such as Google!

To get you started, you may find a list of commonly used terms and famous ciphers here.

Ciphers

Morse Code

Link to what it is and how it works

Example:

  • Ciphertext: .... .. ....... - .... . .-. .
  • Message: hi there

Polyalphabetic Ciphers

Link to what it is Link to how it works

Example:

  • Keyword: BOB

  • Ciphertext: TSDSSU NSTTOHF

  • Deciphered Message: SECRET MESSAGE

    ``

Affine Cipher

Link to what it is and how it works

Example:

  • a = 5, b = 8, m = 26
  • plaintext: AFFINECIPHER
  • ciphertext: IHHWVCSWFRCP

Homophonic Substitution Cipher

Link to what it is and how it works

Example:

  • Message: DEFEND THE EAST WALL OF THE CASTLE
  • Ciphertext: F7EZ5F UC2 1DR6 M9PP 0E 6CZ SD4UP1

Smithy Code

Link to what it is and how it works (Wikipedia) Link to what it is and how it works (enacademic)

Baconian Cipher

Link to what it is and how it works

Example (full example is too long):

  • Key: STRIKE NOW
  • Ciphertext: Hold OFf uNtIl you hEar frOm mE agAin. wE May cOMpROmIse

Caesar Cipher

Link to what it is and how it works

Example:

  • Key: 1
  • Ciphertext: efgfoe uif fbtu xbmm pg uif dbtumf
  • Message: defend the east wall of the castle

Polybius Square Cipher

Link to what it is and how it works

Example:

  • Key:
   A B C D E
A| p h q g m
B| e a y l n
C| o f d x k
D| r c v s z
E| w b u t i
  • Message: defendtheeastwallofthecastle
  • Ciphertext: CC BA CB BA BE CC ED AB BA BA BB DD ED EA BB BD BD CA CB ED AB BA DB BB DD ED BD BA

Fractionated Morse Cipher

Link to what it is and how it works

Example:

  • Message: defend the east
  • Ciphertext: -..x.x..-.x.x-.x-..xx-x....x.xx.x.-x...x-x

Ciphers that were not list here during the challenge:

  • Railfence Cipher
  • Telephone Cipher