Can You Crack This Word Substitution Code?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the analysis of a word substitution code found in a spam email. Participants explore whether the text represents a legitimate code or is simply a collection of random words used by spammers to evade anti-spam filters. The conversation includes perspectives on cryptographic techniques and the nature of the text.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Adam presents a portion of the code and expresses uncertainty about breaking it, suggesting it may be a word substitution code.
  • Some participants note that all 5-letter words appear except for a few short conjunctions, which they find unusual.
  • Adam mentions his experience with other types of ciphers, questioning the security of a non-repeating key in a Vigenère cipher.
  • One participant argues that the text is not a code but rather a random assortment of words used by spammers to bypass anti-spam measures.
  • Adam counters that he has encountered similar codes before, suggesting a pattern in their structure.
  • Another participant supports the idea that the words are generated randomly from a dictionary, reinforcing the notion that there is no code present.
  • Adam reflects on the nature of the words, suggesting they may be chosen for their relevance to the spam context, but acknowledges the randomness of the selection.
  • One participant points out that the prevalence of 5-letter words could indicate a lack of randomness, which raises questions about the nature of the text.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the text constitutes a code or is merely a random collection of words. There is no consensus on the nature of the text, with some arguing for its randomness and others suggesting it may still represent a coded message.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the presence of specific word lengths and the context of spam emails, but the discussion does not resolve the underlying assumptions about the nature of the text or the effectiveness of spam filtering techniques.

Arsonade
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hey guys i recently found a code in a spam e-mail sent to me, it apears to be a word substitution code and i haven't been able to break it (not sure if there is a way) anyway here's the portin of code i got, if you think you might need more examples e-mail me, i won't post them here becasue some of them have bad language but this one's good;

"coyly macro abbot an tenth fatal named also panda yield coyly skill
found oasis macaw fugue lodge voice pines tells times knelt route hello vbweb quota cream
glory keeps as wheel audit crack sugar gaily class knelt lives stuck girls
hello alias abuzz ovals the taboo young newly fewer
fight right floor wrong saved crept exams check check stood.
tails glory crowd as sabin going

added their a sabin covet weirs chevy cries alias intel feint as
also cries olive cloud upset video glory ulcer rhode stood the crave safer moody eerie
today allen crime qualm glory block tales goose bored a unsay teats holds
grand small fader plump an merry death begin an
worry clock abeam vivid fudge shake medic snack creed north.
start cairn erect woods using joint

usual night belts reply unsay grows yukon state kudzu jewel
acted idaho intel eerie maine allot

round
abets speak.

fader
couch salsa.

abaft
and shark."

Thanks

Adam
 
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All 5-letter words except for 'and', 'as', 'an' and 'a'...strange ! :rolleyes:
 
Gokul43201 said:
All 5-letter words except for 'and', 'as', 'an' and 'a'...strange ! :rolleyes:
yeah i really have no experience with eord substitution codes, i work on vinergerette PGP and things like that I've got another question, majorly off topic too, a vinegerette cipher with a random key for every letter, nonrepeating, it should create an unbreakable right?

Adam
P.S. oh and you missed a few 4 letter words; also
 
I don't believe it's a code. Spammers put a long list of randomly selected words into their spam to spoof antispam programs.
 
Tide said:
I don't believe it's a code. Spammers put a long list of randomly selected words into their spam to spoof antispam programs.

yeah but I've gotten other codes like this, it looks like an signiture @the bottom, they all seem to be in that form and theyre always diffferent

Adam
 
Arsonade said:
yeah but I've gotten other codes like this, it looks like an signiture @the bottom, they all seem to be in that form and theyre always diffferent
And, as Tide said, they're all generated by the same program pulling random words out of a dictionary to make its spam look like a legitimate letter to anti-spam software. I agree that there's no code to be found here.

- Warren
 
chroot said:
And, as Tide said, they're all generated by the same program pulling random words out of a dictionary to make its spam look like a legitimate letter to anti-spam software. I agree that there's no code to be found here.

- Warren
hmmm, yeas i guess tis might make sence, but the words don't seem to be chosen out of the dictionary, most of them could be used i pornographic kind of spam letter, like the 1 this came in, but then again that probably doesn't matter, ok thanks

Adam
 
then again, now that ui look @ it, youre right, they do look random, must be my dirty mind again lol

Adam
 
Something looking "random" is not a sign that it is not a ciphertext. Au contraire in this case, the fact that about 90% of the words are 5-letter words (ie : a lack of randomness) is what is suggestive of it being "not a code".
 
  • #10
r u saying you think it is a code?

Adam