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Date Cipher
A date cipher uses a date, expressed as a series of numbers, to determine how many spaces each letter in a message is to be shifted.
For instance, if the message is MYSTERY, and the date which will encipher the message is
681, then the encoder would line the two up as
shown below.
| M |
Y |
S |
T |
E |
R |
Y |
| 6 |
8 |
1 |
6 |
8 |
1 |
6 |
Looking at the Roman alphabet, the sender would then shift the M
six spaces to the left and get a G. Y would be
shifted eight spaces to the left, so that the next letter in the
code would be Q. S would be shifted one space to make R,
and so on. This produces the meaningless string of
letters, GWRNWQS.
| |
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 |
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M |
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6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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G |
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Y |
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8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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Q |
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S |
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1 |
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R |
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T |
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6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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N |
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E |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
W |
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R |
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1 |
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Q |
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Y |
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6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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S |
To
decode the message, the recipient would again write the message
and repeat the date over and over beneath it, then reverse the
encoding process. The G would be shifted six spaces to the
right, resulting in M; the Q would shift eight spaces to the
right, resulting in Y, and so on until the decoded message
reads: MYSTERY.
Please visit our
message board
for more hints and tips about Danger by Design.
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