Technorati Profile

Technorati Profile

The Story Behind CIA's "Kryptos"

Look what I've found out...

Located in the northwest corner of the New Headquarters Building courtyard is a sculpture by artist James Sanborn entitled "Kryptos." Dedicated on November 3, 1990, the theme of this sculpture is "intelligence gathering." "Kryptos" incorporates native American materials such as wood and metal. A piece of petrified wood supports a large S-shaped copper screen that looks like a piece of paper coming out of a computer printer. On the "paper" are inscribed several enigmatic messages, each written in a different code. The sculpture continues to be a source of pleasure and mystery for Agency employees with a few employees taking the challenge to "break the code."

Cool...

Storyflow Cipher

Below is a story. Someone who does not know about the Storyflow Cipher will have no idea that there's a hidden message at all! I've used this with a childhood friend (we were teens when I developed this) and we wrote each other and exchange letters every week (we used to see each other every week when we went to Church).

What do you think?

Waking up late, close to noon, actually, my stomach grumbled searching for something it wants to grab so I made myself ready and went out to eat. I want something cold and hot...that's salad with hot chili! Then back to my unit.

I live in a condo. Everything's almost just within reach. I just have to either go up or go down. That's how small my world is.

I went to my postoffice box to check my mails, at the same time ask the info desk if someone asked for me or if someone left me a message. None. Where's my date? How come he didn't show up? Argghh...I'll date alone! No need to be prim and proper! :D Just my old self.

So I'll start with some shopping. Women love shopping. Though I can't stand staying too long shopping around because I get so excited and my stomach gets excited I'd need to go out at once otherwise I'll need a toilet! Do you have that kind of sickness? It's weird, I know. But when I go out, my stomach will ease up so I can get back in! That's one formula why I don't spend much. (Looking for the positive out of the negative!)

Ok, so what did I buy? Some groceries (my ref is full of water only!) and some chilis. I've been used to eating with hot peppers and I feel empty without a taste of it!

I forgot I had to drop a snail mail to my friend across the globe! I went back to the mail station to do that before I completely forget it and write all over again!

Argghhh!!! My memory needs upgrading!!! I forgot to buy some shampoo! Can't live without it and the last drop yesterday wasn't enough! Back to the grocery. Will have to leave the stuff I bought earlier at the info booth. Kinda heavy to bring back to the grocery store.

Ok, got my shampoo, and bathsoap, and toothpaste, and a box of tissues. Talk about impulse buying. Gotta go before my stomach complains again!

After picking up my stuff, I got hungry again but this time leisurely eating and chatting with my online friends...on bed... How much did my adcents grow? Let me check...

Musical Cipher

The Musical Cipher was developed sometime a year ago when I wanted to send a message to someone who's got the brains and understands music (a piano player), so a music sheet, though handwritten at that time, will not raise any doubt.

You've got to know the basic technicalities of writing music to code this. Reading it (the message enveloped within) only needs intellect, though. Rather, logic. The Musical Cipher is easier than the Dots, Dashes, and Slashes. That ought to be a relief. :D

Cipher, Crypt, and Code: Definition of Terms

Before setting up this blog, I never thought the differences of these terms: cipher, crypt or cryptogram, and code.

So I searched Wikipedia...

For me then, they were all crypts and codes, and that crypts is just a better word for code...I was wrong...

Crypts or cryptograms are basically letter substitutions, or could be images for letters and logically decrypted by starting with one-letter words such as "i" and "a" IF the message is in English...

For more info on Cryptograms including its history...

A cipher (or cypher) needs a key to be deciphered, and a complex set is based on algorithm. But you need a key (which normally changes) to crack a cipher. The ciphers I've developed are yet simple ones as there is only one key (though that can change). More about it here...

What about code? A code is a method used to transform a message into an obscured form, preventing those not in on the secret from understanding what is actually transmitted. A code needs a codebook for decoding...and example I just thought of is the Morse Code...where a dot and a dash is a code for the letter A.

Dots, Dashes and Slashes

Here's my favorite cipher! Called Dots, Dashes and Slashes. I use it almost anywhere especially in public...kinda like Braille (or is that Braile?)...I had a couple of friends who were my pen friends too way back when and we wrote in this manner...of course I taught them how to use it. Even if the letter is laid down open, nobody in the house can understand! With all the secrets shared, I find it cool! :)

Line Graph Cipher

The Line Graph Cipher is something I have developed some 15-or-so years ago. Forgotten when exactly. :D But I've improved on an aspect today which makes it more understandable, rather, more authentic-looking.

Try to figure out what the cipher is all about. What's the message?

Number Crunch

Number Crunch is the easiest set of cipher I use. Up until now I use it, not anymore to hide what I write about since many do know about it now, but to assign PIN numbers to my ATMs or passwords which become passnumbers instead.

Actually, a little brain crunch is sufficient to crack the code open and you'll be deciphering almost instantly. Practice is needed, though, to cipher or decipher like you're using the alphabet.

Yesterday, I got to know someone who visited one of my websites at http://ceefive.i.ph and particularly commented on one of my posts about ciphers. His site is http://manuelviloria.com which I came to frequent after that comment incident replying to my post, UNDERSTANDING the message I enciphered using the Number Crunch.

It was like fresh blood running through my veins, envigorating my hungry brains with exchanging of ciphered messages I haven't done in a couple of decades! (Back then I had a 'playmate' who would give me some pieces to decipher at the spur of the moment using a new set of codes but would normally be classified as cryptograms, but in images, not letters.)

I've thought of creating this blog some weeks ago but the idea got cemented only after that exchange with Manuel Viloria. Thanks to him! :)

So back to the Number Crunch. Try this:

208919 318251620 31514199192019 15141225 142113251819 1144 162114320211209151419. 231892020514 914 208919 1311414518 7922519 2085 18514518 1 16185202025 81184 209135 1991435 15145 1352020518 3114 25 18516185195142054 225 15145 1518 202315 142113251819.

I say this is easy but it needs some patience. For the logical thinkers, it's normal to think that the alphabet can be represented by numbers. The logical sequence will be easily brought to mind, thus A=1 and Z=26...BUT...with the Number Crunch, you have to decide which numbers stand together and which ones stand alone. If I wrote 9     12 15 22 5     25 15 21, that's easy. But if I write it as 9 1215225 251521, that gets a bit tough.

Try to decipher and put your answer as a comment.

Welcome!

At last! I'm going to blog about one of my favorite hobbies. A passion I've had since high school days. A result of introversion, boredom, and secrecy.

I was an introvert. I still am, somehow. My extrovert side is learned. Planned. Effortful. Good thing there is this technology called the internet which I was blessed to be familiar with since 1995. The monitor is my shield. Typing is my expression. I'm not good in speaking. At least that's how I evaluate myself. I used to say my pen is mightier than my tongue since I can express better in writing than in voicing my sentiments or even explaining simple things. If women were blessed with talking abilities, I guess I was just trickled with it.

Before the existence of PCs to the general public I always had a paper notebook and pen with me. My memory is not that efficient so I write things down. My mind is always busy with things to think about. Mostly with new ideas. I create. I'm usually bored with what's available so I try to make things better or create something new.

I got a lot of ideas but I was timid to let others know about them. I compose poems but I do not want others to read them (that was before). So I write them in ciphers. I do not have to worry then that my public transport seatmate or my classmate or anyone near me would have any inkling as to what I wrote about.

I could have stayed with the simplest code I use (up until now) but being easily bored, I created others.

Now that I'm not that introvert anymore but still passionate about ciphers and crypts and codes that I even buy Cryptograms puzzle books.

It is my purpose to share that part of me...