Ciphers

Cipher: a secret or disguised way of writing; a code.

Throughout history, ciphers have been used as tools to convey secret messages. Some are
ancient, and some were created during the birth of our country, but all have served the same
purpose; to send secret messages!

Caesar Cipher
The first cipher on our list is called the “Caesar Cipher”. It is the oldest known
substitution cipher, and was used by Julius Caesar himself, though historians think the cipher
was around long before he was.

The Caesar cipher shifted the entire alphabet over three letters, so that each letter served as a
different letter.

PLAIN: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

CIPHER: D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C
So if you wanted to send this message: MEETING TOMORROW, you would write it as
PHHWLQJ WRPRUURZ. Nothing to it!

1. Encipher these messages:

a. DELIVERY OF SUPPLIES DELAYED
b. MEET AGENT IN FRONT OF POST OFFICE

2. Decipher these messages:

a. OHDSH WKURXJK WKH VLGH GRRU
b. WKH URRVWHU FURZV DW GDZQ

St. Cyr Slide

Another type of cipher is very similar to the Caesar Cipher, but much more customizable. It was
named after the French military academy where it was created: The St. Cyr slide

This cipher was accompanied with a device that had two rows of the alphabet, but one slid
freely to shift the alphabet left or right at will. Instead of just one cipher, you could have 26
different varieties of the same cipher.
To use the device, slide the letter of your choice to match up underneath the letter A, and
encode or decode a message.

Use the St. Cyr slide (or wheel) you made in class to encipher these messages

(hint: use the letter k as your selected letter)

1. Encipher these messages:

a. I LIKE TO WRITE CIPHERS
b. PRACTICE YOUR CODES AND CIPHERS
2. Decipher these messages:
a. MYNOC RKFO MRKXQON RSCDYBI
b. LOGKBO YP CZSOC

The Pigpen Cypher

The pigpen Cipher has been around for a long time - over 800 years to be exact! It was
originally used during the Crusades, but then it disappeared until the 1700’s when the
Freemasons picked it up. For this reason, the Pigpen Cipher is also known as the Freemason
Cipher. It also resurfaced during the civil war, when a postal worker found the symbols on an
envelope addressed to a suspected Confederate spy. Here’s what the pigpen Cipher looks like.

To encipher one of these messages, simply use the part of the drawing that corresponds
to the letters that you want to encipher. For example, to spell ‘Mr. Kelley’ it would look like
 .

Rosicrucian Cipher

While the pigpen is very useful and easy to remember, a similar, more compact cipher is
available. This one is called the Rosicrucian Cipher. It uses the same concept as the pigpen
cipher, only this one depends on the location of the dot in the code bracket. For example: The
letter A in the pigpen cipher is , but the letter A would be with the Rosicrucian cipher.

Here are some examples of letters:

Z N G
Practice!
Here is a message to decode using the Rosicrucian cipher:

/
/
 Greek Square Cipher
This cipher is the earliest multilateral cipher known to man. Polybius, a historian and
cryptographer who lived in ancient Greece nearly 2,200 years ago invented the device called
the Polybius checkerboard, more commonly known as the Greek square. Each letter uses a two-
number equivalent based on its position in the matrix.

1 2 3 4 5 NOTE: Because there

are 26 letters in the
alphabet, but 25 places
1 A B C D E in the grid, I and J
occupy the same space.
2 F G H I/J K Your partner should be
able to figure out the
difference as they
3 L M N O P decipher your message.

4 Q R S T U
5 V W X Y Z
To encipher a message, you locate the letter you want in the chart. Then list the row,
and then column that the letter is in. For example, the letter R would be 42, or the letter K
would be 25. The biggest disavantage is the fact that your message will be twice as long.

Practice!
Decipher these words using the Greek Square:

1. 352442114415
2. 132315132515421234114214

Rail Fence Cipher

This cipher is a very simple transposition process based off of the design of the ‘split rail’
fences that dotted the American countryside in the nineteenth century. This one splits the
message up into two separate gibberish words that can be quickly unscrambled using a zig-
zagging line. For example, you would write a message like:
 DO NOT DELAY IN ESCAPING

And then you would arrange the letters like this.

Now, to send it as a ciphered message, write the top line, and then the bottom like this:

DNTEAIECPN OODLYNSAIG

Just reverse the process to decipher it!

PRACTICE!

1. EGRLAPESDIHR DAALNOUECPES
2. ECPNWEOELILS SAEOBFRALSOT

Null Cipher
One of the most basic ways of concealing a message is the null cipher. The tactic used
here is making a phrase where only certain letters mean something in the message. The phrase
could be a well-crafted letter with two meanings, or it could be a meaningless string of
nonsense words. It all depends on what you plan on doing with the letter. Try finding a meaning
in this message:

SKUNK AVALANCHE VERTICAL EASY YESTERDAY

OCTOBER USUALLY REMOVE SERIOUS
EVERLASTING LAP FOREVER

Did you get it? Here’s a hint: look at the first letter of each word in the phrase. It spells
out “ s a v e y o u r s e l f ”. To use this cipher, you can use any letter in the word, and you can
be as creative as you want.

My antelope is not supposed to read enigmatic eulogies tonight

Large orange opals kill underappreciated noseless dragons. Eventually, Remus the
hat eater returns umbrella guns.
 The Vigenère cipher
One of the most famous ciphers in history is the Vigenère cipher, once known as “le
chiffre indéchiffrable” or, “the unbreakable cipher.” Its premise was simple; slide the alphabet
over, much like the Caesar cipher, or the St. Cyr slide. But the Vigenère differed in a crucial way
in that it switched to a different alphabet for each letter, rather than staying on one. Its style is
known as a polyalphabetic substitution cipher, and it is incredibly difficult to crack.

To encipher a message, you would first choose a key word that would be used to switch
alphabets for each letter. In this example, let’s use the word LEMON to encipher the sentence
”ATTACKATDAWN”.
ATTACKATDAWN
LEMONLEMONLE

Much like graphing in algebra, you would use the top row as the alphabet you are using
to encipher the letter, and you would find the enciphered letter the same as a Caesar cipher.

Plaintext: ATTACKATDAWN

Key: LEMONLEMONLE

Cipher text: LXFOPVEFRNHR

Practice!

For practice, encipher these two sentences;

-use the code word “spy”

1. Watch For dogs!
2. Secret bookcase

Cracking the Vigenère

(upcoming)

Frequency distribution

Here is a message enciphered using the frequency distribution method. It is a somewhat

lengthy process, but using the method of ‘frequency distribution’ we can make the message at
least partially readable.
yfzh zh mj kpktlzhk zj etkmizjq lzwfkth dhzjq vtkcdkjlg bzhytzedyznj. zy zh kmhzkhy yn dhk yfzh
skyfnb zv gnd zjyktlkwy m skhhmqk yfmy zh sntk yfmj njk fdjbtkb lfmtmlykth zj akjqyf, eklmdhk zj
yfmy lmhk, yfk hmswak hzuk zh amtqk kjndqf hn yfmy yfk lfmtmlykt bzhytzedyznj zh sntk azikag
yn lanhkag tkhkseak yfmy nv m ygwzlma skhhmqk xtzyykj zj kjqazhf. xk fmok smbk gndt ymhi
kmhzkt zj yfzh kpmswak eg hkwmtmyzjq yfk xntbh zj yfk skhhmqk.

The message is long enough to warrant attempting decryption using frequency distribution.
The first step is to make a list of the frequency distribution of the letters in the ciphertext. It is
as follows:

a – 11 l – 12 w–6

b–7 m – 29 x–3

c–1 n – 15 y – 35

d – 10 o–1 z – 35

e–6 p–2
f – 21 q – 10

g–7 r–0

h – 35 s – 10

i–3 t – 21

j – 21 u–1

k – 52 v–3

The following is an approximation of the distribution of letters in English, given a random

writing sample of 1000 characters:

A – 73 G – 16 M – 25 S – 63 Y – 19

B–9 H – 35 N – 78 T – 93 Z–1

C – 30 I – 74 O – 74 U - 27

D – 44 J–2 P – 27 V - 13

E – 130 K–3 Q–3 W – 16

F – 28 L – 35 R – 77 X–5

In the ciphertext above, the letter k appears most frequently, with 52 instances, and the
letters h, y and z are next, with 35 instances each. This implies that the cipher “k” probably
translates to the plaintext “e,” since “e” is the most commonly-found letter in English, and the
cipher letters “h,” “y” and “z” probably translate into three of the letters “a,” “i,” “n,” “o,” “r,”
“s” or “t,” since these are the next-most-common letters in English.

-Changing the ciphertext “k” to the plaintext “e,” we have the following:
yfzh zh mj EpEtlzhE zj etEmizjq lzwfEth dhzjq vtEcdEjlg bzhytzedyznj. zy zh EmhzEhy yn dhE
yfzh sEyfnb zv gnd zjyEtlEwy m sEhhmqE yfmy zh sntE yfmj njE fdjbtEb lfmtmlyEth zj aEjqyf,
eElmdhE zj yfmy lmhE, yfE hmswaE hzuE zh amtqE Ejndqf hn yfmy yfE lfmtmlyEt bzhytzedyznj
zh sntE aziEag yn lanhEag tEhEseaE yfmy nv m ygwzlma sEhhmqE xtzyyEj zj Ejqazhf. xE fmoE
smbE gndt ymhi EmhzEt zj yfzh EpmswaE eg hEwmtmyzjq yfE xntbh zj yfE sEhhmqE.

A study of short words (two or three letters) comes in handy here. We notice a few
patterns, especially in reference to the most common letters seen in this ciphertext. Since “z”
and “h” appear so frequently, and we notice there are five instances of the two-letter word
“zh,” a good guess is that “zh” could be “is,” “in,” “at,” “an” or “or.” Also, there are six times
where “zj” appears, giving more strength to this argument. Let’s try the cipher “z”
corresponding to the plaintext “i,” with the cipher “h” corresponding to the plaintext “s” and
the cipher “j” corresponding to the plaintext “n.” Then we have:

yfIS IS mN EpEtlISE IN etEmiINq lIwfEtS dSINq vtEcdENlg bISytIedyInN. Iy IS EmSIESy yn

dSE yfIS sEyfnb Iv gnd INyEtlEwy m sESSmqE yfmy IS sntE yfmN nNE fdNbtEb lfmtmlyEtS IN
aENqyf, eElmdSE IN yfmy lmSE, yfE SmswaE SIuE IS amtqE ENndqf Sn yfmy yfE lfmtmlyEt
bISytIedyInN IS sntE aIiEag yn lanSEag tESEseaE yfmy nv m ygwIlma sESSmqE xtIyyEN IN
ENqaISf. xE fmoE smbE gndt ymSi EmSIEt IN yfIS EpmswaE eg SEwmtmyINq yfE xntbS IN
yfE sESSmqE.

Looking at the first two words, “yfIS IS,” one might guess that this means “this is,” especially
with the cipher “y” appearing 35 times. Guessing that provides us with:

THIS IS mN EpEtlISE IN etEmiINq lIwHEtS dSINq vtEcdENlg bISTtIedTInN. IT IS

EmSIEST Tn dSE THIS sETHnb Iv gnd INTEtlEwT m sESSmqE THmT IS sntE THmN nNE
HdNbtEb lHmtmlTEtS IN aENqTH, eElmdSE IN THmT lmSE, THE SmswaE SIuE IS amtqE
ENndqH Sn THmT THE lHmtmlTEt bISTtIedTInN IS sntE aIiEag Tn lanSEag tESEseaE
THmT nv m TgwIlma sESSmqE xtITTEN IN ENqaISH. xE HmoE smbE gndt TmSi EmSIEt
IN THIS EpmswaE eg SEwmtmTINq THE xntbS IN THE sESSmqE.

Looking at the second line, we find a one-word “m.” Since the plaintext “i” is already used, this
must mean the cipher “m” corresponds to the plaintext “a.” This gives:

THIS IS AN EpEtlISE IN etEAiINq lIwHEtS dSINq vtEcdENlg bISTtIedTInN. IT IS

EASIEST Tn dSE THIS sETHnb Iv gnd INTEtlEwT A sESSAqE THAT IS sntE THAN nNE
HdNbtEb lHAtAlTEtS IN aENqTH, eElAdSE IN THAT lASE, THE SAswaE SIuE IS aAtqE
ENndqH Sn THAT THE lHAtAlTEt bISTtIedTInN IS sntE aIiEag Tn lanSEag tESEseaE
THAT nv A TgwIlAa sESSAqE xtITTEN IN ENqaISH. xE HAoE sAbE gndt TASi EASIEt IN
THIS EpAswaE eg SEwAtATINq THE xntbS IN THE sESSAqE.

In the second line, there is a two-letter word, “Tn,” which implies that the cipher “n” is the
plaintext “o.” Then, in the fourth line, the word “ENndqH” implies “ENOUGH,” so that the
cipher “d” is the plaintext “u,” and the cipher “q” is the plaintext “g.” When we put in those
three substitutions, we get:
THIS IS AN EpEtlISE IN etEAiING lIwHEtS USING vtEcUENlg bISTtIeUTION. IT IS
EASIEST TO USE THIS sETHOb Iv gOU INTEtlEwT A sESSAGE THAT IS sOtE THAN
ONE HUNbtEb lHAtAlTEtS IN aENGTH, eElAUSE IN THAT lASE, THE SAswaE SIuE IS
aAtGE ENOUGH SO THAT THE lHAtAlTEt bISTtIeUTION IS sOtE aIiEag TO laOSEag
tESEseaE THAT Ov A TgwIlAa sESSAGE xtITTEN IN ENGaISH. xE HAoE sAbE gOUt
TASi EASIEt IN THIS EpAswaE eg SEwAtATING THE xOtbS IN THE sESSAGE.

It’s getting much easier now, because we can see obvious words formed. For instance, in the
third line, “HUNbtEb” implies “HUNDRED,” in the fifth line, “ENGaISH” implies “ENGLISH,” and
in the last line, “sESSAGE” implies “MESSAGE.” When we make those substitutions, we see:

THIS IS AN EpERlISE IN eREAiING lIwHERS USING vREcUENlg DISTRIeUTION. IT IS

EASIEST TO USE THIS METHOD Iv gOU INTERlEwT A MESSAGE THAT IS MORE
THAN ONE HUNDRED lHARAlTERS IN LENGTH, eElAUSE IN THAT lASE, THE
SAMwLE SIuE IS LARGE ENOUGH SO THAT THE lHARAlTER DISTRIeUTION IS
MORE LIiELg TO lLOSELg RESEMeLE THAT Ov A TgwIlAL MESSAGE xRITTEN IN
ENGLISH. xE HAoE MADE gOUR TASi EASIER IN THIS EpAMwLE eg SEwARATING
THE xORDS IN THE MESSAGE.

Although we have deduced barely more than half the letters of the alphabet so far (14,
to be exact), we have deciphered the vast majority of the letters in the ciphertext, and in fact,
the rest is almost trivial. The cipher “l” obviously turns into the plaintext “c,” and with that,
things become clearer still, as shown here:

THIS IS AN EpERCISE IN eREAiING CIwHERS USING vREcUENCg DISTRIeUTION. IT

IS EASIEST TO USE THIS METHOD Iv gOU INTERCEwT A MESSAGE THAT IS MORE
THAN ONE HUNDRED CHARACTERS IN LENGTH, eECAUSE IN THAT CASE, THE
SAMwLE SIuE IS LARGE ENOUGH SO THAT THE CHARACTER DISTRIeUTION IS
MORE LIiELg TO CLOSELg RESEMeLE THAT Ov A TgwICAL MESSAGE xRITTEN IN
ENGLISH. xE HAoE MADE gOUR TASi EASIER IN THIS EpAMwLE eg SEwARATING
THE xORDS IN THE MESSAGE.

Rather than go through the rest of the letters step-by-step, let’s look at the message in its
entirety:
THIS IS AN EXERCISE IN BREAKING CIPHERS USING FREQUENCY
DISTRIBUTION. IT IS EASIEST TO USE THIS METHOD IF YOU INTERCEPT A
MESSAGE THAT IS MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED CHARACTERS IN LENGTH,
BECAUSE IN THAT CASE, THE SAMPLE SIZE IS LARGE ENOUGH SO THAT THE
CHARACTER DISTRIBUTION IS MORE LIKELY TO CLOSELY RESEMBLE THAT OF
A TYPICAL MESSAGE WRITTEN IN ENGLISH. WE HAVE MADE YOUR TASK
EASIER IN THIS EXAMPLE BY SEPARATING THE WORDS IN THE MESSAGE.
Practice!
Try to crack this enciphered message!
“Bfb K hoy’b yene bq ko luqrg xif tezxni," Awqei rpucvkpl.
"Ql, yzc een’e pgpp epcx," slqf xhp Kcx: "wp’zg elw uch hpzg. M’m xif. Cof’zg qao."
"Pqa dz gqy kywy M’m xif?" watl Cpinm.
"Asu xcux bp," acmd epg Gae, wt cof eqylov’v lagm esmp pgve.”