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Kryptos remains one of the most famous unsolved codes in the world today. Since the encrypted sculpture was placed on display by American artist Jim Sanborn on the grounds of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Langley, Virginia, in 1989, there has been much speculation about the meaning of the encrypted messages it bears.

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WARNING!!! Some potentially explicit material!!!

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WARNING!!! Some potentially explicit material!!!

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In November 1969, the Zodiac mailed his second cipher consisting of 340 symbols. Experts and amateur code breakers struggled with the cipher but repeatedly failed to find its hidden message. Over the decades, many people claimed to have solved the cipher but, to date, no one has produced a coherent and credible solution.

In his book Zodiac, Robert Graysmith claimed that he had solved the Zodiac's "340 Cipher." Graysmith's claims as a code breaker earned him some local publicity in 1979, but his solution seemed rather incoherent.
HERB CAEN I GIVE THEM HELL TOO BLAST THESE LIES SLEUTH SHEOLH SEE A NAME BELOW KILL- LEERS FILM A PILLS GA- ME PARDON ME AGCEPT T- O BLAST NE BULLSHIE HESE FOOLS SHALL ME- ET KILLER PLEAS ASK LUNBLAD SOLE AT PLSD UL CLEAR IT LAKE IT SO STARE I EAT A PILLLL ASSHOLLE I PLANT MR AH PHANE LAKE B ALLL SLAVES BECAUSE DEAL WILLL STOLEN EITHE- R LATE TEA SPALL I HE- LL SLASH TOSCHI THE PIG M STALLS A O DEAL C EIGHTH SOLE M SLAIN
The solution offered in Zodiac was an alteration of a version first presented by Graysmith in the late 1970s. The FBI files included an early version of Graysmith's proposed solution:
Herb Caen: I give them hell too to dead hell is a clue. there some see a name below a killer's game is pills parole me. Cops met to talk to me. Such time. These fools helpd me. Mad killer places a mask. Alone pleasured I'd like to kill. Scared I eat a pilll. Asshole I plan to harm phone ask. CB sells slaves because all collection either please to lie in hell. He's me. Toschi the pig leads me. Collects eighth some mail KT
Some people may have believed that Graysmith had deciphered the code, but the FBI was not impressed. On February 15, 1979, San Francisco police forwarded Graysmith's solution, his worksheets and his code key to the FBI, and the Bureau reported its conclusions.
Based upon the information available, it is the opinion of respondent that the solution is not a valid decryption... The total feeling generated toward the decrypted solution is that the solution has been forced. First the random-like transposition system permitted the various vowels and consonants to be forced into words, then the words were forced into being poetry in an effort to give them meaning. Just about any random selection of words could be arranged to be as 'logical' as those in the supposed poetic solution. (It is noted that the initial ZODIAC decrypted message was particularly clear as to the meaning ZODIAC desired to communicate.) When a cryptogram has been decrypted properly there is an unmistakable sense of rightness about the solution. This sense of rightness is completely absent in the proposed solution.
Graysmith later altered portions of this solution and included the second version in his first book. Graysmith also claimed that his solution was confirmed by Greg Mellen and Eugene Waltz, both prominent members of the American Cryptogram Association. (Repeated requests for confirmation have been ignored by the ACA and no one at the organization appears willing to confirm Graysmith's claim.)

The files of the Vallejo Police Department included one proposed partial solution to the 340 cipher which read:
You are getting closer than ever too catching me only I cannot arrange to meet with names no sir I to am through playing have a news tv or radio station tune to kgo tv at ten after seven am go to one or more at ot al of one that came to gather or meet with me.

During an interview for the History Channel's 2009 documentary series MYSTERYQUEST, FBI code analyst Dan Olson speculated that some lines of the 340 cipher were meaningless filler while the relevant portions were buried inside other lines.

Olson also suggested that rearrangement of the cipher lines might be necessary in order to find the solution.

In June 2011, a man named Corey Starliper claimed that he had solved the 340 cipher and that the solution identified long-time suspect Arthur Leigh Allen as the Zodiac. Starliper was the center of attention for a brief period as the media repeated his sensational claims without question or scrutiny. The so-called "Starliper solution" spread across the Internet and the world. Starliper's solution read:
KILL/SLF/DR/HELP/ME/KILL/MYSELF/GAS/CHAMBER /AEIOUR/DAYS/QUESTIONSABLE/EVERYY/WAKING /MOMENT/IM/ALIVE/MY/PRIDE/LOST/I/CANT/GO /ON/LIVING/IN/THIS/WAY/KILLING/PEOPLE/I/HAV/KILLD /SO/MANY/PEOPLE/CANT/HELP/MYSELF/IM/SO/ANGRY /I/COULD/DO/MY/THING/IM/ALONE/IN/THIS/WORLD /MY/WHOLE/LIFE/FUL/O/LIES/IM/UNABLE/TO/STOP /BY/THE/TIME/YOU/SOLVE/THIS/I/WILL/HAV/KILLD /ELEVEN/PEOPLE/PLEASE/HELP/ME/STOP/KILLING/PEOPLE /PLEASE/MY/NAME/IS/LEIGH/ALLEN/
Starliper stated that he first became interested in the Zodiac case after seeing the 2007 film ZODIAC and reading the book version by Robert Graysmith. "I saw the movie first, and when I saw the movie, (I had) instant interest in it... When I read the book, I was ... just hungry for more when the book ended... I became absolutely obsessed with the case, to the point that I'd look up from Graysmith's books ... and realize that I'd actually forgotten to eat." The book and the film ZODIAC both presented a distorted and factually inaccurate account of the case which has been altered and embellished in order to lend credence to Graysmith's theories while making Arthur Leigh Allen appear more guilty than the truth would permit. Starliper was admittedly influenced and inspired by the book and film, and his comments about the case, the evidence, Allen, and other subjects proved that he had relied on these unreliable sources for most of his information about the case.

Starliper's solution was debunked on this website and others, and some media reports questioned his methods and results. Starliper became defensive and even threatened those who dared to dismiss his claims. In an article titled "Proposed Zodiac 340 Solution Comes Under Fire," Starliper was quoted as saying, " I believe there is enough evidence to suggest that my solution is valid. However, it really is anyone's guess ... For all anybody knows, (the Zodiac's) code could be the alphabet repeated 30 times over." On his Facebook page, Starliper confessed, " The solution may be incorrect but its just as valid as anyone else's guess." Dave Oranchak's website ZodiacKillerCiphers.com featured an article which debunked Starliper's solution. Oranchak wrote, " His solution is a hoax . . . Corey's system allows him great freedom to guess words that fit his preconceived notions of the Zodiac case. His guesses are no better than any one else's guesses, and his solution has no significance."

Starliper's methods and results highlighted the persistent problem with the many proposed solutions offered by Graysmith and others. Using preconceived notions, Donald and Bettye Harden unlocked the Zodiac's first cipher. The Hardens assumed that the killer's ego would dictate that the message began with the word "I," and, that the killer's need to brag about his crimes would dictate that the message also included the word "kill." These assumptions proved correct, and the Harden's produced a clear and coherent solution which began, " I like killing people because it is so much fun." Experts confirmed the accuracy of the Harden solution and the deciphered message is generally accepted as valid. The Hardens based their assumption on basic facts about the killer's letters and they produced a message which contained clear sentences of coherent text. The methods used could be verified and duplicated by others, and, the solution was did not appear forced. Robert Graysmith, Corey Starliper and many others had proposed solutions for the 340 cipher which appeared forced to fit several preconceived assumptions about the killer and his identity. Those assumptions were not based on fact and the results were not sound. As the FBI analyst noted, " just about any random selection of words could be arranged to be as 'logical' " when using such methods. The Harden's were successful in deciphering the Zodiac's cipher because their method relied on the basic facts and common sense.

The 340 cipher has been the subject of debate, scrutiny and controversy for more than four decades. To date, no one has deciphered the hidden message. Computer programmer David Oranchak developed the " Zodiac web toy," a cryptography website where visitors can use a program designed to test their own solutions. The Zodiac's first cipher was solved by determined amateur code breakers in search of the truth. Perhaps another dedicated amateur will someday unlock the mysteries of the Zodiac's 340 symbol cipher.
RELATED LINKS: The FBI FILES: 1979 - Graysmith's 340 Solution Dave Oranchak's Zodiac Webtoy ZodiacKillerCiphers.com - Attacking the 340 using genetic programming Proposed 340 Cipher Solutions Harden Worksheets: Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3
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Copyright 2013 ZodiacKillerFacts.com

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Zodiac Killer Facts - Separating Fact & Fiction

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In November 1969, the Zodiac mailed his second cipher consisting of 340 symbols. Experts and amateur code breakers struggled with the cipher but repeatedly failed to find its hidden message. Over the decades, many people claimed to have solved the cipher but, to date, no one has produced a coherent and credible solution.

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Some of his ciphers have never been solved.

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Create your own Cryptogram Puzzle with Discovery Education's Puzzlemaker. Try to decode the message.

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Analysis of Criminal Codes and Ciphers by Olson (Forensic Science Communications, January 2000)

January 2000 - Volume 2 - Number 1

Analysis of Criminal Codes and Ciphers
Daniel Olson
Cryptanalyst Forensic Examiner
Racketeering Records Analysis Unit
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington, DC

Introduction

For as long as man has had the ability to communicate, secrecy has been sought. Over the centuries various methods of secret writing, or cryptography, have been developed for numerous purposes. The two major categories of cryptographic systems are ciphers and codes, both of which are used extensively by criminals to conceal clandestine records, conversations, and writings.

Cryptology is the scientific study of cryptography and includes cryptanalytics, which deals with methods of solving cryptographic systems. This article is an introduction to the variety of secret writing encountered in law enforcement and describes the role of FBI cryptanalysts in examining and deciphering these criminal codes and ciphers.

Cipher Systems

Ciphers involve the replacement of true letters or numbers (plain text) with different characters (cipher text) or the systematic rearrangement of the true letters without changing their identities to form an enciphered message. Cipher systems have been common since ancient times and vary in degree of complexity and sophistication. The Enigma Cipher Machine used by the Germans during World War II, for example, was thought to be unbreakable. Only after the fighting had concluded did it become known that the Allies had broken the cipher and had been reading secret German communications throughout the war.

Criminals have a long history of using cipher systems. During the Prohibition Era, rum runners in ships off the East and West Coasts of the United States used a variety of cipher systems, including advanced cipher machines, to communicate with their confederates on shore. The United States Coast Guard and the Department of Commerce pooled their resources to intercept and decipher the rum runners' messages. In 1969 the Zodiac Killer, who terrorized California's Bay Area during the 1960s and 1970s, sent a three-part cipher message to area newspapers explaining his motive for killing. This complex cipher used more than fifty shapes and symbols to represent the 26 letters of the alphabet but was broken in hours by a high school history teacher and his wife.

Criminals typically use homemade, simple substitution cipher systems which use a single cipher text character to replace a plain text character. Those most likely to use such ciphers include criminals involved in clandestine activities that require incriminating records, such as drug trafficking, loansharking, and illegal bookmaking. Incarcerated criminals also use cipher systems to communicate with cohorts inside and outside of prison.

Ciphers can be made more secure by using a keyword to scramble one of the alphabets. Keywords can be placed in the plain text, the cipher text, or both, and any word can be used as a key if repeated letters are dropped. Here the word SECRETLY (minus the second E) is used as the plain text keyword.

It is important to remember that the cipher text may utilize numbers, symbols, or letter combinations to represent plain text characters.

Solving Simple Substitution Ciphers

If the cryptanalyst knows which language the cipher was written in and has enough cipher text to work with, simple substitution ciphers can often be solved easily. Cryptanalysts use the following procedures when decrypting an unknown cipher:

! The cipher text message is identified from other
cipher text or plain text on the document.

! The number of different cipher text characters or combinations are counted to determine if the characters
or combinations represent plain text letters, numbers, or
both letters and numbers.

! Each cipher text character is counted to determine
the frequency of usage.

! The cipher text is examined for patterns, repeated
series, and common combinations.

After these analyses have been completed, the cryptanalyst begins to replace cipher text characters with possible plain text equivalents using known language characteristics. For example:

! The English language is composed of 26 letters. However, the nine high-frequency letters E, T, A, O, N, I, R, S, and H constitute 70 percent of plain text.

! EN is the most common two-letter combination, followed by RE, ER, and NT.

! Vowels, which constitute 40 percent of plain text, are often separated by consonants.

! The letter A is often found in the beginning of a word or second from last. The letter I is often third from the end of a word.

Using these and many other known language characteristics, a cryptanalyst can often decipher a simple substitution cipher with little difficulty.

Foreign language keywords are often used. The following is an example of a drug ledger that used a Spanish keyword cipher:

While decrypting the cipher, the cryptanalyst made the assumption that the letters represent numbers. If A+A+A = A, as set forth on the right-hand column, then A must equal 0 or 5. Using the same logic, if A+Q+Q = A, then Q must equal 5 and Amust be 0. The cryptanalyst continued until the following relationships were established:

Number ciphers do not require a keyword. An incarcerated drug dealer in an Arizona prison sent a letter to a cohort instructing her to mail a shipment of drugs to the following Georgia address:

Box BFC
GCDI Abercorn Drive
Savannah, GA 31206

The cipher text letters are all within the first nine letters of the alphabet. If
A is assumed to equal 0, then the following key would result.

The key can be verified by checking the resulting street address. If this key is proved to be invalid, try moving the 0 to the end of the number series and assume thatA = 1instead. In this example, the first assumption proved to be correct. The notation A = 0 was found in the lower right-hand corner of the prison letter, confirming the key.

Telephone keypad systems may use all 26 letters in the alphabet and thus are easily confused with enciphered words. Further analysis of the letter combinations, however, will disprove the possibility that the cipher text conceals words. Once identified, telephone keypad ciphers are easily decrypted.

The name Bob Smith would be encrypted as follows:

Code Systems

Ciphers are created by replacing individual characters of plain text with cipher text characters. Codes differ from cipher systems in that code text may represent letters, numbers, words, or phrases. Codes are typically used to add two elements to communications: secrecy and brevity. Military and espionage code systems place the greatest emphasis on secrecy; civilian agencies and corporations use technical codes for brevity, often with no concern for security. Criminals use codes for both purposes. Unlike cipher systems which can be deciphered using set procedures and techniques, codes cannot be deciphered without some knowledge of what the writer is attempting to conceal.

Sports Bookmaking Codes
Illegal bookmaking operations require detailed business records to record wagers placed, game lines and outcomes, bettor names, and account balances. On the basis of these record-keeping needs, bookmakers typically make extensive use of codes. Brevity is the main purpose for the codes, but the codes also provide an element of secrecy. Some bookmaking operations rely on specialized codes known only to the bookmaker and his clerks, but many bookmaking codes are well known among bookmakers throughout the United States.

The following are examples of how a sports bookmaking operation can encode a losing $1000 wager on the Dallas Cowboys plus 6 ½ points:

Here the name of the bettor is given. The apostrophe after the six indicates the half point in the line. Dime means a $1,000 wager. No win or lose indicator is present. Instead the bookmaker notes the amount owed by the bettor for the losing wager.

Boys is a slang name for the Dallas Cowboys. The 200T indicates 200 X 5 as in the first example. The X indicates a losing wager.

Here the code BP represents the bettor. Pim-3 indicates the track and race. X5X denotes a $5 wager to place. No wager is made on the win or show positions.

Here account TICCO placed a $2 combination wager on number 435 on the midday lottery drawing.

Drug records normally consist of dates, accounts, units, prices, and sometimes drug types. Drug traffickers often use codewords to disguise their activity, and these are limited only by the imagination of the drug trafficker. Typically different codewords are used in conversation to differentiate between drug types. For example, the code white indicates cocaine, and green indicates marijuana.

The code 772 is the identity of the customer inquiring about the price of one ounce of cocaine.

The code 007 is the identity of the seller, and the price for one ounce is $1150.

Account 772 wants to purchase two ounces of cocaine, and the seller is asked to call 772's cell telephone number (432 is the telephone number prefix).

The code 823 is the identity of a drug courier traveling on Interstate 95 at Exit 12. The code 333 indicates everything is fine. If the driver wanted to communicate that he or she had been delayed by vehicle repairs or stopped by police, the code 999 (stopped for repairs) or 911 (under arrest) could be used.

Conclusion

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Racketeering Records Analysis Unit
Room 4712
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20535

Telephone: (202) 324-2500
Facsimile: (202) 324-1090
E-mail: labrrau@fbi.gov

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Analysis of Criminal Codes and Ciphers by Olson (Forensic Science Communications, January 2000)

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Analysis of Criminal Codes and Ciphers by Olson (Forensic Science Communications, January 2000) January 2000 - Volume 2 - Number 1 Analysis of Criminal Codes and Ciphers Daniel Olson Cryptanalyst Forensic Examiner Racketeering Records Analysis Unit Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, DC Introduction For as long as man has had the ability to communicate, secrecy has been sought.

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Although most people claim they're not familar with cryptography, they are often familar with the concept of ciphers, whether or not they are actually concious of it.

Ciphers are arguably the corner stone of cryptography. In general, a cipher is simply just a set of steps (an algorithm) for performing both an encryption, and the corresponding decryption.

Despite might what seem to be a relatively simple concept, ciphers play a crucial role in modern technology. Technologies involving communication (including the internet, mobile phones, digital television or even ) rely on ciphers in order to maintain both security and privacy.

Although most people claim they're not familar with cryptography, they are often familar with the concept of ciphers, whether or not they are actually concious of it. Recent films such as The Da Vinci Code and National Treature: Book of Secrets have plots centered around cryptography and ciphers, bringing these concepts to the general public.

This section (quite appropriately) deals with individual ciphers and algorithms. They have been divided based on their era and category (i.e. when were they used and how do they work). If you're looking for a reference guide, refer to the alphabetical list to the right, otherwise continue reading.

In our effort to provide a practical approach to these, we have developed a javascript implementation for each cipher that allows encryption and decryption of abitrary text (of your choosing) using the cipher. Some history of each cipher is also included, and tips on cryptanalysis are also provided.

What are the eras of cryptography?

Crytography has been through numerous phases of evolution. Early ciphers in cryptography were designed to allow encryption and decryption to take place by hand, while those which are developed and used today are only possible due to the high computational performance of modern machines (i.e the computer you are using right now). The major eras which have shaped cryptography are listed below.

The classical algorithms are those invented pre-computer up until around the 1950's. The list below is roughly ordered by complexity, least complex at the top.

Mechanical Ciphers are those that were developed around the second World War, which rely on sophisticated gearing mechanisms to encipher text.

Modern algorithms are those that are used in current technology e.g. block ciphers, public key cryptosystems etc. These alogrithms are very secure (otherwise they would not be used), but in many cases we can practice on weakened versions of the algorithms.

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Although most people claim they're not familar with cryptography, they are often familar with the concept of ciphers, whether or not they are actually concious of it. Ciphers are arguably the corner stone of cryptography. In general, a cipher is simply just a set of steps (an algorithm) for performing both an encryption, and the corresponding decryption.

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Ciphers vs. codes (article) | Cryptography | Khan Academy

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