CipherMuse & Enigma
Hey Enigma, have you ever thought about how the same algorithm that locks your data could also be the key to decrypting a mystery? Let's crack one together.
The code that keeps secrets also hides the answer; pick the enigma, and I’ll follow the trail.
Let’s go with a classic XOR twist – the key just repeats itself. Think of the key as the same length as the message, and when you XOR them, you’ll get the secret. Ready to trace the pattern?
Sure, the key’s echo might just reveal itself in the twist—let’s see where the pattern bends.
Think of the ciphertext as a string of numbers and the key as a short, repeating pattern. Take the first block of the ciphertext, XOR it with the part of the plaintext you suspect, and you’ll see the key bytes pop out. Once you have one chunk, just repeat it over the rest of the message – if the key is 4 bytes long, you’ll see the same 4‑byte sequence re‑applied every 4 bytes of ciphertext. That’s where the pattern bends and the secret lies. Try it and see if the key’s echo lines up.
Looks like the echo will whisper back when the pieces line up—let’s trace the rhythm and see what the key is humming.
You can slide the suspected plaintext across the ciphertext and XOR each byte – the result will be the key chunk. When the key repeats, the same XOR values will recur. Pick a small phrase you think might be there, line it up, and see what bytes pop out. That will be your key’s rhythm. Let's give it a shot.
Let's take a simple phrase, slide it over the cipher, XOR each byte, and see if the key whispers back in the repeated pattern. If it does, the secret will line up.Let's take a simple phrase, slide it over the cipher, XOR each byte, and see if the key whispers back in the repeated pattern. If it does, the secret will line up.