Difference between revisions of "Main Page"
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There is so much information on these ciphers, but it is very hard to find in one place. This wiki tries to correct this problem by curating factual tidbits, experimental results, and analysis in a single location. | There is so much information on these ciphers, but it is very hard to find in one place. This wiki tries to correct this problem by curating factual tidbits, experimental results, and analysis in a single location. | ||
| − | + | The ciphers: | |
*[[Solved 408-character cipher]] | *[[Solved 408-character cipher]] | ||
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Solved 340-character cipher]] |
*[[Unsolved 13-character "My name is" cipher]] | *[[Unsolved 13-character "My name is" cipher]] | ||
*[[Unsolved 32-character "map code" cipher]] | *[[Unsolved 32-character "map code" cipher]] | ||
| + | *[[Encyclopedia of observations]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Mysterious symbols: | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[[Halloween card]] - Not actually a cipher, but we consider the possibility of hidden messages or meanings | ||
| + | *[[Exorcist letter markings]] - Also not actually a cipher, but we consider the possibility of hidden messages or meanings | ||
| + | |||
| + | Other articles and information: | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://zodiackillerciphers.com/images/zodiac-combined-cipher-alphabets.png Unique symbols from all four cipher alphabets] | ||
*[[Webtoy's transcription scheme]] - ASCII representations of the ciphertext on this wiki use the [http://oranchak.com/zodiac/webtoy/ Webtoy's] ASCII transcriptions of the cipher. | *[[Webtoy's transcription scheme]] - ASCII representations of the ciphertext on this wiki use the [http://oranchak.com/zodiac/webtoy/ Webtoy's] ASCII transcriptions of the cipher. | ||
*[[Software Tools]] | *[[Software Tools]] | ||
| Line 17: | Line 27: | ||
*[[Research papers]] - Academic papers related to Zodiac ciphers in particular, and cryptography in general | *[[Research papers]] - Academic papers related to Zodiac ciphers in particular, and cryptography in general | ||
*[[Cipher comparisons]] - Tabulation of measurements performed on an assortment of ciphers. Includes various test ciphers, and famous unsolved ciphers. | *[[Cipher comparisons]] - Tabulation of measurements performed on an assortment of ciphers. Includes various test ciphers, and famous unsolved ciphers. | ||
| + | *[[Timeline]] - A collection of events associated with the crimes of the Zodiac killer | ||
| + | *[http://www.zodiackillerciphers.com/?p=637 Collection of test ciphers] - A collection of ciphers, many with known solutions, organized by how much they resemble the unsolved 340-character cipher. | ||
| + | *[[Catalog of sources for Zodiac's cipher symbols]] | ||
| + | *[[Miscellaneous case updates and details]] | ||
| + | *[http://zodiackillerciphers.com/images/poster-animated.gif Animation of the two sketches from the Wanted poster] | ||
== Discredited or inconclusive solution attempts == | == Discredited or inconclusive solution attempts == | ||
| − | *Thomas Dougherty's code theory: A production of plaintext letters expanded | + | *Daryll Lathers' 340 solution: Overuse of anagrams, and polyalphabetic assignments of plaintext letters to cipher symbols: |
| + | **[http://www.zodiackillerciphers.com/?p=267 Article] | ||
| + | *Traveller1st's partial 340 solution: A demonstration of how partial solutions can be created which contain Zodiac-related words and phrases: | ||
| + | **[http://www.zodiackillerfacts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=24906#p24906 Post] | ||
| + | *Özcan Türkmen's solution: Overuse of anagrams, and many other subjective interpretations of plaintext fragments: | ||
| + | **[http://www.zodiackillerciphers.com/?p=208 Article] | ||
| + | *Partial solution by Jonas: A solution that contains a name and a few legible words, but much gibberish. | ||
| + | **[http://zodiac340cipher.thoughts.com/posts/zodiac-killer-s-340-cipher-cracked-now Article] | ||
| + | *Thomas Dougherty's code theory: A production of plaintext letters arbitrarily expanded into full words. | ||
**[http://www.zodiackillerciphers.com/?p=183 Analysis] | **[http://www.zodiackillerciphers.com/?p=183 Analysis] | ||
*Lyndon Lafferty (13 cipher): A combination of approaches that produces ambiguous solutions. | *Lyndon Lafferty (13 cipher): A combination of approaches that produces ambiguous solutions. | ||
| Line 28: | Line 51: | ||
*AK Wilks / Zander Kite (32, 408, and 340 ciphers): These decryption systems permit many arbitrary solutions due to vast spaces of possible selections. | *AK Wilks / Zander Kite (32, 408, and 340 ciphers): These decryption systems permit many arbitrary solutions due to vast spaces of possible selections. | ||
**[http://unazod.com/Wilks_32.htm Original article] | **[http://unazod.com/Wilks_32.htm Original article] | ||
| + | **Above link is dead so here's the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150417050648/http://unazod.com/Wilks_32.htm Wayback Machine copy] | ||
**[http://www.zodiackillerfacts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1292 Analysis and discussion] | **[http://www.zodiackillerfacts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1292 Analysis and discussion] | ||
*Robert Graysmith (340 cipher): Selective use of anagramming and other techniques, resulting in an incoherent message typical of anagram-based solutions. | *Robert Graysmith (340 cipher): Selective use of anagramming and other techniques, resulting in an incoherent message typical of anagram-based solutions. | ||
| Line 38: | Line 62: | ||
*Chris Farmer / OPORD | *Chris Farmer / OPORD | ||
** [http://www.opordanalytical.com/articles1/zodiac-340.htm Post] | ** [http://www.opordanalytical.com/articles1/zodiac-340.htm Post] | ||
| + | ** The above link is dead. There is a partial snapshot here but the images were not preserved: https://web.archive.org/web/20120830044446/http://www.opordanalytical.com:80/articles1/zodiac-340.htm | ||
*rand | *rand | ||
** [http://zodiackiller.21.forumer.com/a/posts.php?topic=2330&start=0 Post] | ** [http://zodiackiller.21.forumer.com/a/posts.php?topic=2330&start=0 Post] | ||
| Line 57: | Line 82: | ||
*Hal 9000 | *Hal 9000 | ||
** [http://zodiackiller.21.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=4459&start=50&postdays=0&postorder=asc#93915 Post] | ** [http://zodiackiller.21.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=4459&start=50&postdays=0&postorder=asc#93915 Post] | ||
| + | *hermeswest | ||
| + | ** [http://zodiackiller.21.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=2377 Post] | ||
*Miscellaneous | *Miscellaneous | ||
** [http://www.zodiackillerfacts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=590 Post] | ** [http://www.zodiackillerfacts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=590 Post] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:26, 30 November 2023
Contents
Welcome to the Zodiac Ciphers wiki
This wiki is an attempt to gather all useful factual and verifiable information pertaining to the ciphers associated with the "Zodiac Killer". It is also a place to post results of experimental analysis of the ciphers.
There is so much information on these ciphers, but it is very hard to find in one place. This wiki tries to correct this problem by curating factual tidbits, experimental results, and analysis in a single location.
The ciphers:
- Solved 408-character cipher
- Solved 340-character cipher
- Unsolved 13-character "My name is" cipher
- Unsolved 32-character "map code" cipher
- Encyclopedia of observations
Mysterious symbols:
- Halloween card - Not actually a cipher, but we consider the possibility of hidden messages or meanings
- Exorcist letter markings - Also not actually a cipher, but we consider the possibility of hidden messages or meanings
Other articles and information:
- Unique symbols from all four cipher alphabets
- Webtoy's transcription scheme - ASCII representations of the ciphertext on this wiki use the Webtoy's ASCII transcriptions of the cipher.
- Software Tools
- Word counts from the Zodiac Killer's correspondences
- Research papers - Academic papers related to Zodiac ciphers in particular, and cryptography in general
- Cipher comparisons - Tabulation of measurements performed on an assortment of ciphers. Includes various test ciphers, and famous unsolved ciphers.
- Timeline - A collection of events associated with the crimes of the Zodiac killer
- Collection of test ciphers - A collection of ciphers, many with known solutions, organized by how much they resemble the unsolved 340-character cipher.
- Catalog of sources for Zodiac's cipher symbols
- Miscellaneous case updates and details
- Animation of the two sketches from the Wanted poster
Discredited or inconclusive solution attempts
- Daryll Lathers' 340 solution: Overuse of anagrams, and polyalphabetic assignments of plaintext letters to cipher symbols:
- Traveller1st's partial 340 solution: A demonstration of how partial solutions can be created which contain Zodiac-related words and phrases:
- Özcan Türkmen's solution: Overuse of anagrams, and many other subjective interpretations of plaintext fragments:
- Partial solution by Jonas: A solution that contains a name and a few legible words, but much gibberish.
- Thomas Dougherty's code theory: A production of plaintext letters arbitrarily expanded into full words.
- Lyndon Lafferty (13 cipher): A combination of approaches that produces ambiguous solutions.
- Corey Starliper (340 cipher): An arbitrary decryption system that permits the insertion of a predetermined message.
- AK Wilks / Zander Kite (32, 408, and 340 ciphers): These decryption systems permit many arbitrary solutions due to vast spaces of possible selections.
- Original article
- Above link is dead so here's the Wayback Machine copy
- Analysis and discussion
- Robert Graysmith (340 cipher): Selective use of anagramming and other techniques, resulting in an incoherent message typical of anagram-based solutions.
- John Cecil: Relaxes the "one plaintext letter per symbol" constraint, resulting in easily fitting a pre-conceived plaintext.
- Hal Kravcik
- Chris Farmer / OPORD
- Post
- The above link is dead. There is a partial snapshot here but the images were not preserved: https://web.archive.org/web/20120830044446/http://www.opordanalytical.com:80/articles1/zodiac-340.htm
- rand
- Robert P. Ackerman
- back2good
- AuthUser
- Pax
- dronjom
- Rembrandt
- Hal 9000
- hermeswest
- Miscellaneous
Discussions regarding these and other solution attempts
See Also
- The Zodiac Ciphers blog - A place for announcements and news related to the Zodiac ciphers.
- CryptoScope - The newest section of the "zodiac webtoy". Analyze statistical features and patterns in the Zodiac ciphers and more.
- Zodiac Cipher Webtoy - Plug in your own decryption attempts with this online tool.
- Transcriptions of letters associated with the Zodiac killer: From WikiSource | Transcriptions used for my experiments
- "Crypto 101" by glurk - An introduction to simple cryptography concepts.
- Top 10 uncracked codes (Curiously, the Zodiac codes are missing)
- Cipher Mysteries - Nick Pelling's fascinating site, filled with articles about mysterious unsolved historical and contemporary ciphers, including the Zodiac ciphers.
You can contact me here:
Email me if you want an account here. Account creation is currently disabled due to abuse by spammers.
