WINNER WINNER WINNER
Congrats, twlare, FTF, master cryptographer!!!
This cache may require the use of a web browser page to get required information. It would be helpful to accomplish steps 1-3 below before getting to the actual cache location. The cache is at the posted coordinates.
I am a great fan of the movie “The Imitation Game” and the story of the breaking of the German Enigma code machine during World War II….so much, in fact, that 10ODW and I were privileged to visit where it was actually done, Bletchley Park in England, on our cruise to the British Isles last year. Here’s a small summary of the historical events:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine
You may want to do a little independent reading on how the Enigma actually works in order to solve this puzzle cache.
In keeping with the whole cryptography theme of this cache, I must also say that Dan Brown is one of my favorite authors, and I’m particularly fond of “The Davinci Code.”
You must have known it….this cache container is taken straight from the movie, and is a device known as a “cryptex”.
Unlike the movie, the cryptex cache container won’t destroy the contents if not solved correctly, but you will need to know the five character combination to unlock the cache and sign the log. How do you find the combination? Remember the Enigma? You’ll have to find one to crack the code!
There are several versions of Enigma simulators on line and available as smartphone apps. They all seem to work the same; here’s a task list for you to work from:
- Find a three-rotor Enigma simulator such as “Enigma Machine” for Android phones. You will use this to decrypt the ciphertext below to give the combination to open the cryptex. The app used for this cache was a freebie found on the Android Play Store. Apple charges for their version of the same app, but a web based version that works well is found here:
https://www.101computing.net/enigma-machine-emulator/
There is an emulator for iPhones and iPads that is known to have an issue with my encryption. I strongly recommend using the one at the above URL or the Android emulator.
- You must set the three rotor initial positions on the Enigma emulator. Do not use any plugboard settings on the Enigma Emulator.
- The Enigma initial rotor settings are AAA. There are 158 million million million possible decryption key combinations. If you mess this part up, and by chance discover another combination of rotor settings that works, immediately go and buy as many lotto tickets as you can.
- The encrypted text is “QDEKR”. Type this text in one letter at a time and note the decrypted text that appears at the bottom.
- The correctly decoded text is an easily recognizable word and is the cryptex combination.
- At the cache location and using the code word you decrypted, align the proper letter on each code ring with the painted index mark, then open the cryptex by pulling the ends apart, and sign the log,
- Put the log back into the crypex container and close it. The correct cryptex code word will need to be in place in order to close the cryptex completely.
- Turn the wheels to a random combination to reset the lock.
- Put the cache back as you found it.
- Enjoy!
Bonus...The name of this cache is encrypted with the same Enigma rotor initial settings as the cryptex combination. If you can decrypt the name of the cache send me a non-log message!