What Type of Encryption is Used in This Text?

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    Encryption
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the type of encryption used in a provided text. Participants explore various encryption methods, including substitution ciphers and polyalphabetic ciphers, while debating the characteristics of the text and the implications of its structure. The conversation is technical and speculative, focusing on cryptographic concepts rather than providing definitive answers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the text may be a simple substitution cipher, where individual letters are swapped for others based on frequency analysis.
  • Others argue that the presence of single letters like 'w', 't', and 's' indicates a more complex encryption method, possibly involving a variable substitution key.
  • A participant proposes that the encryption could be a polyalphabetic cipher, specifically mentioning the Vigenère cipher.
  • Another participant mentions the possibility of a rotating cipher, suggesting that the lack of repeated phrases supports this idea.
  • Some participants reference the use of online tools to partially decrypt the text, indicating that it may not be as secure as initially thought.
  • One participant provides a link to a forum discussing Rot13 and Rot-N encryption methods, describing them as simple and easily decrypted, but not necessarily applicable to the current text.
  • Another participant notes that certain phrases in the text repeat, which could imply a simpler encryption method than initially considered.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the type of encryption, with no consensus reached. Some believe it is a substitution cipher, while others propose it is a polyalphabetic cipher or a rotating cipher. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact nature of the encryption.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the limitations of their analyses, including the dependence on assumptions about the text's source and structure. There are also unresolved questions about the specific characteristics of the encryption method used.

wirrmartin
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Hi,

I'm sure this will be completely obvious for someone, but it eludes me.
What type of encryption is used in the following text? (this isn't homework)

Code: 
Ysq xaxrvl! W zsix yfi dmdxd kvaw obdvcl! A'q oxrp jwvr loifq xatt pcm wixnk mgyk mids uvtvkzby xabs, sil xabs yok rhmhzby xh wo nwll tgy ldusfbnx Jspox picvyvms. Zh'k nnlt fz'Xvxwdzs Osgz bvwfk t mokod ntvkrgkl

Xbfe zg ksfxtywfk rhu nwdp gxvvf yim uaty, ks ahpvtmper yfi zew t lriyl hk tncl

Tym aep rmhx, bf pcm'vx mhv tavlm tf qjevd tywk, wxgd ds s ChnTlpw qxlsruw abmh kvw takajs: "Xvxwdzs qsn trv o bikd aer A atgt dm lmfx brqo" eqw I'cz zshd yfi mt pbty ggqxmhzby. Em lods hsbgt.

Sm llx pap, Gsq'l poiyarz hn fij rxqt gfgnxvt kvwvx hn ywk ghfplhwv, bgsgwjiw uy Rqlmobszcf'w kxcvbl evmimwlc. Dxeg of irx olh!

Kmgveisdc, Ykeurai, Ukaergr, tgd Dolxaxw, kvw ghhlvgl hnwej cf xax iehwvgxt

Not any ROT-n type algorithm, I know that. Any help would be appreciated because this is driving me crazy.
 
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There is no way of knowing - that's rather the point of encryption!

but given that it is broken up into words and assuming you got this from your little sister's diary rather than a bunker under the pentagon it's probably a simple substitution cipher.
So individual letters are swapped for other letters, if you know the most common letter in your language and the most common short words and pairs of letters it's very easy to crack
 
I doubt it, notice that there are several letters that are on their own, namely w, t and s.
In English, the only letters that do this are A and I.
 
Hmm, "ggqxmhzby".

Got an enigma machine handy?
 
wirrmartin said:
I doubt it, notice that there are several letters that are on their own, namely w, t and s.
In English, the only letters that do this are A and I.

Then just go one step farther. The substitution key changes based on somehing, like the character count or line count, etc.

What is the source of the text?
 
Looks polyalphabetic. Vignere cipher, I imagine.
 
wirrmartin said:
Hi,

I'm sure this will be completely obvious for someone, but it eludes me.
What type of encryption is used in the following text? (this isn't homework)

Code: 
Ysq xaxrvl! W zsix yfi dmdxd kvaw obdvcl! A'q oxrp jwvr loifq xatt pcm wixnk mgyk mids uvtvkzby xabs, sil xabs yok rhmhzby xh wo nwll tgy ldusfbnx Jspox picvyvms. Zh'k nnlt fz'Xvxwdzs Osgz bvwfk t mokod ntvkrgkl

Xbfe zg ksfxtywfk rhu nwdp gxvvf yim uaty, ks ahpvtmper yfi zew t lriyl hk tncl

Tym aep rmhx, bf pcm'vx mhv tavlm tf qjevd tywk, wxgd ds s ChnTlpw qxlsruw abmh kvw takajs: "Xvxwdzs qsn trv o bikd aer A atgt dm lmfx brqo" eqw I'cz zshd yfi mt pbty ggqxmhzby. Em lods hsbgt.

Sm llx pap, Gsq'l poiyarz hn fij rxqt gfgnxvt kvwvx hn ywk ghfplhwv, bgsgwjiw uy Rqlmobszcf'w kxcvbl evmimwlc. Dxeg of irx olh!

Kmgveisdc, Ykeurai, Ukaergr, tgd Dolxaxw, kvw ghhlvgl hnwej cf xax iehwvgxt

Not any ROT-n type algorithm, I know that. Any help would be appreciated because this is driving me crazy.

wirrmartin:

This link may help: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=345183"

I would guess this is a rotating cypher because no phrase is repeated in the message, the VB code at the bottom may help crack it. Be patient and I am sure you will find it soon, make sure you include "special characters in the rotation", they are sprinkled in the text.

Text from the VB forum, from the link above;

Rot13 simple means rotating alphabet by 13 characters. It is a very primitive encryption method which can be easily decrypted on knowledge. But for a non-technical user it still remains an unsolved mystery. Rot13 encryption is very easy to understand and use. It is very similar to the Caesar-Encryption method. Here what we do is rotate the character backwards or front by 13 characters in the ASCII table. The means "a" becomes "n" and "p" becomes "}". This method has been used in many news delivery systems as to prevent third parties from gaining easy access to it in the past. But now there are many better encryption systems being used which remain hard to be decrypted. Rot13 uses very simple algorithms and the encryption/decryption functions can be easily made.

What is Rot-N encryption?
Rot13 and Rot-N are very similar with the only exception that Rot-N encryption rotates each character by any number of digit rather than 13. It is basically a number between 1 to 25 so it remains within the ASCII table.

Here is a simple visual basic function for encrypting/decrypting a string:-
Rot-13 was basically made only for typed characters and not any extra signs or special characters so trying characters like "?ot; would cause the program to fail. Anyways you can modify the function to fit all special characters too.

Good luck...

Rhody...

P.S. If you want a real good cryptography book, check out this one https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=341950".
 
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It is a vignere cipher. The key has something to do with egypt =)
 
Crazy, I found an online tool and it cracks it :D (well, partly, I'm messing up the first half, but the information doesn't seem that interesting anyway)
Thx Freddie
 
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  • #10
rhody said:
wirrmartin:

This link may help: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=345183"

I would guess this is a rotating cypher because no phrase is repeated in the message, the VB code at the bottom may help crack it. Be patient and I am sure you will find it soon, make sure you include "special characters in the rotation", they are sprinkled in the text.

Text from the VB forum, from the link above;

Rot13 simple means rotating alphabet by 13 characters. It is a very primitive encryption method which can be easily decrypted on knowledge. But for a non-technical user it still remains an unsolved mystery. Rot13 encryption is very easy to understand and use. It is very similar to the Caesar-Encryption method. Here what we do is rotate the character backwards or front by 13 characters in the ASCII table. The means "a" becomes "n" and "p" becomes "}". This method has been used in many news delivery systems as to prevent third parties from gaining easy access to it in the past. But now there are many better encryption systems being used which remain hard to be decrypted. Rot13 uses very simple algorithms and the encryption/decryption functions can be easily made.

What is Rot-N encryption?
Rot13 and Rot-N are very similar with the only exception that Rot-N encryption rotates each character by any number of digit rather than 13. It is basically a number between 1 to 25 so it remains within the ASCII table.

Here is a simple visual basic function for encrypting/decrypting a string:-
Rot-13 was basically made only for typed characters and not any extra signs or special characters so trying characters like "?ot; would cause the program to fail. Anyways you can modify the function to fit all special characters too.

Good luck...

Rhody...

P.S. If you want a real good cryptography book, check out this one https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=341950".







Actually, "Yfi" repeats itself a couple times if you look at the first few sentences. This Encryption is from freddiew's video about the portal gun on youtube
 
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