Am I allowed to say what the polyalphabetic cipher key ISN'T? I want to do this because I assumed something that was wrong and I don't want other people making the same mistake. If I am allowed to do so, I'll edit my tip/feedback to have what it isn't.

I would suggest that we should let people make their own mistakes, as it is part of the learning experience. Often, when we try to break codes we make assumptions and guesses that turn out to be wrong. When we make these mistakes we may still learn something about the message (we may obtain partial information). Additionally when we make a wrong guess, we will at least be able to eliminate the guess as a potential solution. Learning how to eliminate possibilities, and how to piece together partial information are important skills in cryptanalysis. Hope this makes sense

I understand that we have to double the letters of the base word but can you tell me how did you discover that you have to do that?

Everyone is saying what people must do in order to find the right answer. It sucks. Now that everyone commented that you have to double the letters, the truth is, the way to solve it, is finding the word, but it doesn't work. You know the message beggins with a specific phrase or word and ends with one too. You must figure out using those two knowledges (The word and the known part of the message) how to use the appropiate word

Okay, I figured it out. But how would I know what to do with the keyword that would make it work. I figured it out from reading others' questions and responses. Was there a clue to that step somewhere in the text or would a code breaker just have to play with it enough times to get it right?

I think its because he wants you to find the amount of letters needed in the cipher key

From part-1 of Clue #1 and end of Hint#2 I know the keyword, but it doesn't work. Is there anything else we need to take care of?

I really thought I knew the keyword because it fit everything the Clue#1 hinted it to be and nothing else did, but it didn't work. I highly doubt there's anything else we need to take care of, but rather that we have the wrong keyword. Don't feel like you're lagging or behind because it seems like everyone has this problem.

everything i do... double letters, make word ten letters long, i cant decrypt it! how is it done?

use this website : http://www.mygeocachingprofile.com/codebreaker.vigenerecipher.aspx but you must double all letters no matter what! Then it will be 10 letters

i think i know the shift but i don't know how to decode can someone help me?

Try the Polyalphabetic Exploration on the Ancient Cryptography playlist or http://sharkysoft.com/misc/vigenere/ . I hope this helps!

Main content

Computer science

Course: Computer science > Unit 2

Lesson 3: Cryptography challenge 101

Clue #2

Google Classroom

Before leaving the hotel you notice something else...

Looks like the impression from another message, so you try an old trick:

Night is approaching, so you leave for home with clue #2

Hint 1: Polyalphabetic Review

Hint 2: Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors

Hint 3: Multiplying by 2

Transcript of the above message:

Klkbnqlcytfysryucocphgbdizz
fcmjwkuchzyeswfogmmetwwossd
chrzyldsbwnydednzwnefydthtd
dbojicemlucdygicczhoadrzcyl
wadsxpilpiecskomoltejtkmqqy
mehpmmjxyolwpeewjckznpccpsv
sxauyodhalmriocwpelwbcniyfx
mwjcemcyrazdqlsomdbfljwnbij
xpddsyoehxpceswtoxwbleecsax
cnuetzywfn

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Noble Mushtak
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Noble Mushtak's post “Am I allowed to say what ...”
Am I allowed to say what the polyalphabetic cipher key ISN'T? I want to do this because I assumed something that was wrong and I don't want other people making the same mistake.

If I am allowed to do so, I'll edit my tip/feedback to have what it isn't.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Noble Mushtak's post “Am I allowed to say what ...”
(21 votes)
Answer
- Cameron
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Cameron's post “I would suggest that we s...”
  I would suggest that we should let people make their own mistakes, as it is part of the learning experience.
  
  Often, when we try to break codes we make assumptions and guesses that turn out to be wrong. When we make these mistakes we may still learn something about the message (we may obtain partial information). Additionally when we make a wrong guess, we will at least be able to eliminate the guess as a potential solution.
  
  Learning how to eliminate possibilities, and how to piece together partial information are important skills in cryptanalysis.
  
  Hope this makes sense
  Comment on Cameron's post “I would suggest that we s...”
  (80 votes)
Emma D'cessare
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Emma D'cessare's post “Why do you double the let...”
Why do you double the letters?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Emma D'cessare's post “Why do you double the let...”
(28 votes)
Answer
Măruța Mămăruța
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Măruța Mămăruța's post “I understand that we have...”
I understand that we have to double the letters of the base word but can you tell me how did you discover that you have to do that?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Măruța Mămăruța's post “I understand that we have...”
(13 votes)
Answer
- Adam Snaider
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Adam Snaider's post “Everyone is saying what p...”
  Everyone is saying what people must do in order to find the right answer. It sucks. Now that everyone commented that you have to double the letters, the truth is, the way to solve it, is finding the word, but it doesn't work. You know the message beggins with a specific phrase or word and ends with one too. You must figure out using those two knowledges (The word and the known part of the message) how to use the appropiate word
  Comment on Adam Snaider's post “Everyone is saying what p...”
  (17 votes)
BrandonJSnyder
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to BrandonJSnyder's post “Okay, I figured it out. B...”
Okay, I figured it out. But how would I know what to do with the keyword that would make it work. I figured it out from reading others' questions and responses. Was there a clue to that step somewhere in the text or would a code breaker just have to play with it enough times to get it right?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(13 votes)
Answer
- ferreiraj2016
  Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to ferreiraj2016's post “I think its because he wa...”
  I think its because he wants you to find the amount of letters needed in the cipher key
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
McWilliams, Cameron
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to McWilliams, Cameron's post “Okay, after writing a fai...”
Okay, after writing a fairly complex analysis program, I finally got the keyword correct... how in the world did the receiver know this though?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on McWilliams, Cameron's post “Okay, after writing a fai...”
(16 votes)
Answer
Jazmyn
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Jazmyn's post “How can we figure out tha...”
How can we figure out that the key is supposed to be ten characters long?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(12 votes)
Answer
Jaiia Cerff
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Jaiia Cerff's post “everything i do... double...”
everything i do... double letters, make word ten letters long, i cant decrypt it! how is it done?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Jaiia Cerff's post “everything i do... double...”
(5 votes)
Answer
- Stanley
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Stanley's post “use this website : http:/...”
  use this website : http://www.mygeocachingprofile.com/codebreaker.vigenerecipher.aspx but you must double all letters no matter what! Then it will be 10 letters
  Comment on Stanley's post “use this website : http:/...”
  (13 votes)
pranav.kirsur
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to pranav.kirsur's post “i think i know the shift ...”
i think i know the shift but i don't know how to decode
can someone help me?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on pranav.kirsur's post “i think i know the shift ...”
(5 votes)
Answer
- Noble Mushtak
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Noble Mushtak's post “Try the Polyalphabetic Ex...”
  Try the Polyalphabetic Exploration on the Ancient Cryptography playlist or
  http://sharkysoft.com/misc/vigenere/
  . I hope this helps!
  Comment on Noble Mushtak's post “Try the Polyalphabetic Ex...”
  (2 votes)
erfaan
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to erfaan's post “From part-1 of Clue #1 an...”
From part-1 of Clue #1 and end of Hint#2 I know the keyword, but it doesn't work. Is there anything else we need to take care of?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(7 votes)
Answer
- Noble Mushtak
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Noble Mushtak's post “I really thought I knew t...”
  I really thought I knew the keyword because it fit everything the Clue#1 hinted it to be and nothing else did, but it didn't work. I highly doubt there's anything else we need to take care of, but rather that we have the wrong keyword. Don't feel like you're lagging or behind because it seems like everyone has this problem.
  Comment on Noble Mushtak's post “I really thought I knew t...”
  (4 votes)
ℛα♥εη
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to ℛα♥εη's post “Most confusing puzzle eve...”
Most confusing puzzle ever... but I eventually figured it out. So here's a hint, the keyword is 10 digits after you've doubled every letter... hint 2: Say the keyword is RAIN, on the website (http://sharkysoft.com/vigenere/), it would have to be QZHM. Hope that helps good luck!
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(6 votes)
Answer
- Lexie Granger
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to Lexie Granger's post “Thank you! This was the m...”
  Thank you! This was the most helpful comment I saw. I knew the key word so I did what you said... and it worked. I’m giving you an up vote
  Button navigates to signup page
  (1 vote)