From the post “Safe, for now…” on the Investigate Ingress blog, we found one code in the image and two codes hidden in the source of the post.
[1] wusytrswwuswsqsztrtysrszwvsswrsw [2] shz.ugs.kboyd.bqgo.u.vrnl.h.ysr.b [3] XXIII MXI XII XXIX XXXXI MXI I III XXX XI IX XI CMXI I XII MMIII MMXI MMMXX XX
Code #1
Observations
With a length of 32 characters, it is safe to assume that we might need to somehow pair up the characters.
[hint]
Can you say the ABC on your fingers?
[/hint]
Looking at the code you might notice that the first two characters (wu) have an interesting correlation with the Hex ranges for numbers (30-39). w and u are the 4th and 6th last characters in the alphabet, subtracting one from each, will give us 35 that converts to 5
From this identification, convert each character to its Alphabet index where a=25 and z=0 3 5 7 1 6 8 7 3 3 5 7 3 7 9 7 0 6 8 6 1 7 8 7 0 3 4 7 7 3 8 7 3
Pair the numbers up 35 71 68 73 35 73 79 70 68 61 78 70 34 77 38 73
Convert from Hex to text for the solve 5qhs5syphaxp4w8s
Notice that until now syphax was not a valid keyword.
One smart thing to do sometimes is try to redeem a code before substituting it when the keyword section is a single word.
This is how we identify new keywords, as was the case here.
Code #2
Observations
Dots seems to be a split point. Looking at it more closely we can assume that numbers would be written since we can clearly see the passcode format.
[hint]That key has been used before but you’ll need to reorder it [/hint]
After trying rot, atbash and morse nothing comes out. Let’s try Vigenere.
Let’s assume that the first part SHZ needs to be a number. The only possible fit would be TWO or SIX. You can “brute” Vigenere by simply typing the numbers as the passphrase.
Passphrase:TWO
Message: SHZ
Result:ZLL
Passphrase:SIX
Message:SHZ
Result:AZC
AZC is an interesting result, seems like the alphabet read AZ next would be BY but there seems to be a skip which explains AZC. Logically the rest of the sequence would then be AZCXEVGTIRKPMNOLQJSHUFWDYB
Looks like roman numerals but with those M it would make numbers way to high for decimal.
[hint]- – you might want to look at the distribution . .[/hint]
Look closely at how the groups are formed, especially where the numbers would be in the code. Notice that they are all 5 characters long ? In morse we know that numbers use 5 bits.
We have 4 characters I,X,C & M. By trail and error the only possible combination is that X & C are dashes and I & M are dots
Let’s translate: XXIII MXI XII XXIX XXXXI MXI I III XXX XI IX XI CMXI I XII MMIII MMXI MMMXX XX --... .-. -.. --.- ----. .-. . ... --- -. .- -. -.-. . -.. ..... ..-. ...-- --
Convert morse to text
