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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » ARG: Acheron
PUZZLE: Crossword clues
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Madcat82
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 		I tried some of the other crossword answers as logins and passwords on www.laura.com

No success.
I havent tried all though.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 5:30 pm
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MageSteff
Pretty talky there aintcha, Talky?


Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 2716
Location: State of Denial
Madcat82 wrote:
I tried some of the other crossword answers as logins and passwords on www.laura.com

No success.
I havent tried all though.


How about Thanatos/Herald (tried, no work *sigh*), have we done a "whois" yet to verify site is part of the mystery?

***EDIT***
WHOIS: (Extract only)
Laura Eisenstein
xxxxxxx
New York, NY 10014

Admin contact: Eisenstein, Hal (same address)
Tech contact: Internet Channel (same address)

Record created 30-Nov-1995
Record Expires 01-Dec-2005
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Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead


PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 5:41 pm
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Madcat82
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 		I have tried all now... no success.
I have also tried Laura/eisenstein and Hal/eisenstein
Didnt work.
Hmmm.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 4:59 am
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MageSteff
Pretty talky there aintcha, Talky?


Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 2716
Location: State of Denial
Madcat82 wrote:
I have tried all now... no success.
I have also tried Laura/eisenstein and Hal/eisenstein
Didnt work.
Hmmm.


Thanks for the attempt. Given the registration info for the site and dates created, I think this one is a bit outside the loop, unless they volunteered some space.

Back to square one of 64.
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Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead


PostPosted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:38 am
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MageSteff
Pretty talky there aintcha, Talky?


Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 2716
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 		Spec: Random Idea to try
Since we are still looking for ideas to try let me throw out another one of my stupid ones.

Maybe the clues we need are not the Crossword onces at all. Maybe we are looking at the wrong side of the page. maybe the words we need for this are on the back of each of the clues.

I was reading Grumpyboy's fine trail/guide over at CD, and was reminded that the puzzle on "The Journey" was not the random numbers we could see, but hidden in the white background which we wouldn't think about being there...

Does anyone have access to a hard copy of the paper? If not I will make a trip to the local library this weekend.
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Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead


PostPosted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:56 am
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terminalskeptik
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Joined: 05 Jun 2003
Posts: 351
Location: Onboard the Groovy Purple Derigible

 		i couldnt help but notice the similarity between our numbers (in sum) and
a FedEx tracking number I used earlier today. What ever happened to the chicago drop?
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 5:27 pm
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MageSteff
Pretty talky there aintcha, Talky?


Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 2716
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terminalskeptik wrote:
i couldnt help but notice the similarity between our numbers (in sum) and
a FedEx tracking number I used earlier today. What ever happened to the chicago drop?



Caretaker said that the Chicago drop would not happen until we managed to get inside the NRU system and able to access what we need, not just a file here and there. Will this puzzle open a door (back or front) - we won't knwo until we get there.
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Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead


PostPosted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:02 pm
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MageSteff
Pretty talky there aintcha, Talky?


Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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 		More ideas to try to work the crossword...
bridge-wash-post oct14.txt
Description  Washington Post Bridge Article October 14, 2003.
 txt

 Download 
Filename  bridge-wash-post oct14.txt 
Filesize  2.36KB 
Downloaded  163 Time(s) 
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Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead


PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 1:52 am
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MageSteff
Pretty talky there aintcha, Talky?


Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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 		Solitaire Keys
http://www.schneier.com/solitaire.html

this tells about using the bridge column as the key:

Quote:
2. Use a bridge ordering. A description of a set of bridge hands that you might see in a newspaper or a bridge book is about a 95-bit key. Agree on a way to take the bridge-hand diagram and convert it into an ordering of the deck. Then agree on a way to put the two jokers into the deck. (One obvious one is to put the A joker after the first card mentioned in the text, and the B joker after the second card mentioned in the text.)



This tells how to use 8141= John.
Quote:
3. Use a passphrase to order the deck. This method uses the Solitaire algorithm to create an initial deck ordering. Both the sender and receiver share a passphrase. (For example, "SECRET KEY.") Start with the deck in a fixed order; lowest card to highest card, in bridge suits, followed by the A and then the B joker. Perform the Solitaire operation, but instead of Step 5, do another count cut based on the first character of the passphrase (19, in this example). In other words, do step 4 a second time, using 19 as the cut number instead of the last card. Remember to put the top cards just above the bottom card in the deck, as before.

Repeat the five steps of the Solitaire algorithm once for each character of the key. That is, the second time through the Solitaire steps use the second character of the key, the third time through use the third character, etc.


*EDIT*
Just some additional material for those of us who do not speak cipher lingo:

Quote:
Cipher Feedback
(CFB) A block cipher mode that processes small increments of plaintext into ciphertext, instead of processing an entire block at a time.
This mode uses a shift register that is one block size in length and divided into sections. For example, if the block size is 64 bits with eight bits processed at a time, then the shift register would be divided into eight sections.

cipher mode
A block cipher mode (each block is encrypted individually) that can be specified via the CryptSetKeyParam function. If the application does not explicitly specify one of these modes, then the cipher block chaining (CBC) cipher mode is used.

ECB: A block cipher mode that uses no feedback.

CBC: A block cipher mode that introduces feedback by combining ciphertext and plaintext.

CFB: A block cipher mode that processes small increments of plaintext into ciphertext, instead of processing an entire block at a time.

OFB: A block cipher mode that uses feedback similar to CFB.



So...
If we use the bridge article as the original order of the cards, and each of the crossword clue words as a block to be coded/decoded, and 8141=John as the passphrase, and if the original order of the cards don't work, then start with each players hand and run it both clockwise and counter clockwise until we find something that looks interesting.
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Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead


PostPosted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 7:54 pm
Last edited by MageSteff on Sun Nov 02, 2003 3:42 am; edited 1 time in total
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dashcat
Entrenched


Joined: 09 Dec 2002
Posts: 816
Location: Under the bed

 		So, do the work Magesteff. This sounds really interesting. Give it a try and let us know what you come up with.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 3:29 am
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MageSteff
Pretty talky there aintcha, Talky?


Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 2716
Location: State of Denial

 		Recheck of the work so far...
Revised November 4, 8:41 Eastern...

I'd like someone to double check my work on this so far and make sure I got this going right, before I get too far into this I want to make certain I am using the method correctly... please don't worry about the actual output at the end, we may have to transform it a second time after getting the new encoded string.

Solitaire Work in progress: (*Edit* I think I placed one of the jokers wrong in ordering the deck, which meand all the cuts are off. **EDIT** I regenerated the keystream, hope I did it correctly this time...)

You're going to want at least an 64-character passphrase to make this secure; I recommend at least 80 characters, just in case. Sorry; you just can't get good security with a shorter key.
Solitaire Work in progress:

1. Break the string into 5 character groups, using x's to fill in any missing characters in the last line:
1.a. convert the letters into numbers:

LAURA : 12, 01, 21, 18, 01
URLTE : 21, 18, 12, 20, 05
NAMFD:
RSTAY
UPYEH
TEASE
RBROA
DSIDE
TENAM
WHOOP
GBSSH
EENAX

(NOTE: I am listing the card I get after each operation as a double check, if you get something different let me know!)
2. Generate Keystream letters:
If we use the bridge article from the same day's paper to give the card sequence:

http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/files/529_1067721191.txt

I am arbitrarily starting at North and ordiering the cards in that manner. Then comes the dilema of where to place the two jokers A and B. Because tht first two rounds had bids of 2 C and 2 D, I am arbitrarily sticking Joker A behind the 2 of Clubs and Joker B behind the 2 of Diamonds. Then we have the question of where to start the sequence… Do we start it from the ten of spades (first listed of North), or do we start it from the opening lead 5 of Diamonds? I am starting from 10 of Spades. If it doesn't work I will run from the opening lead.

2a. Move Joker A one card back: since Joker A is starting near the bottom of my deck behind the 2 of clubs, it gets moved one card back behind the A of Spades.

2.b. Moved Joker B (behind the 2 of Diamonds) move it two cards back (behind the 5 of clubs, in front of the queen of spades)

2c. swap the cards in front of the first joker with the cards behind the second joker. This gives Jack of Spades on top, and the 5 of clubs on the bottom (this is the permanent bottom card, do not shuffle it again).

2d. Count cut: Bottom card is the 5 of Clubs: using bridge suits to aid in numbering that would make it: 5 . Leave the 5 of Clubs on the bottom of the deck. Card 5 is the Ace of Diamonds, card 6 is the 7 of diamonds

2e. determine the output card… find the number of the current top card (7 diamonds is 20): Note: Output card is not removed from the deck, just keep track of what it is:

However- if we are using the passphrase 8141= John, then we need to cut the deck a few more times:

meaning the first pass through before the swaping cut, we count down to the 10th card (J=10), meaning the top ten cards get moved to the bottom just in front of the 5 of Clubs. (this was 2 of Spades)

repeat: swap the cards in from of the first joker and behind the second joker:

second pass through: count down 15 cards (to represent the O) and place on bottom ( A of Hearts).

repeat: swap the cards in from of the first joker and behind the second joker (10 of spades),
third pass through: count down 8 (H) and place on bottom (top card Q of Hearts)

repeat: swap the cards in from of the first joker and behind the second joker (Q of Spades)

fourth pass through: count down 14 (N) and move (top card 6 of Clubs) and swap …

At this point I have A of Hearts on top
Count down to the oputput card (A of H is 27)

which makes the first output card the King of Spades

Decrypt of first letter : 12-26 = (38-26) = 12 =L

Second letter:

Do not reshuffle the deck. 5 of clubs still remains the last card of the deck. Current top card is A of Hearts. Move the A Joker one card back (Between the 6 of clubs and the King of Spades), move the B joker back 2 cards(between the 7 of hearts and the 6 of hearts). Do the cut and swap around the two jokers again. Bottom card is still the 5 of clubs (I hope). Top card is King of Spades.
Count down 5 cards (the value of the bottom card) (top card 2 of hearts). Then count down 10 cards (for J) (top: 10 hearts) , cut at the jokers and swap (top: A Hearts). Count down to letter O (15) (4 hearts on top), and cut and swap (10 Hearts), Count to H (Cool (top: 10 Spades) cut and swap, (4 hearts), count to N (14) (7 Diamonds), cut and swap…
top is 10 of spades = 49.

Output card is 10 of clubs = 10

Decrept is 1 – 10 = 27-10 = 17 = Q

(OK, I think I may be doing something wrong here, can someone take a look at http://www.schneier.com/solitaire.html and tell me what step I have missed or included in error?)

Third letter…
Move joker A back one (this puts it between the 7 of diamonds and the A of clubs), move joker B back 2 (between the King of Diamonds and the 8 of Diamonds), cut and swap around the jokers. Move 5 cards (for the 5 of clubs) to the bottom of the deck, in front of the 5 of clubs (top 8 of hearts). Count and move the 10 for letter J, (6 of Spades), cut and swap (A clubs), count to O (15) (3 diamonds), cut and swap, (6 spades), count to H (5 diamonds), cut and swap (3 diamonds), count to N (8 of diamonds, card second from bottom, in front of the 5 clubs is the B joker), cut and swap makes the top card the A joker value is 53.

output card is 7 diamonds = 20.

Decrypt: 21 – 20 =1 =A

Fourth letter..
Note Joker A starts this round on top of the deck. Move A back 1 behind the 5 of diamonds.
Move Joker b back 2 , behind the Jack of Clubs, in front of the 9 of clubs. Swap around the jokers. (9 Clubs= top). Move 5 cards to the bottom of the deck (9 spades), Move the top 10 (for J) (Jack of Hearts) Swap, (2 diamonds), count off to O (top 7 diamonds) swap, (5 diamonds) count off H (2 spades), swap (7 diamonds) count off to N, (King Diamonds), swap.
Top card Jack of hearts = 37.

Output card is 7 hearts.
Decrypt 18 – 7 = 11= K

Fifth card:
Move Joker A back 1 (between King Diamonds and A Clubs. Joker B back 2 (between 6 clubs and 7 diamonds. Swap around the jokers ( Queen Clubs), Count off 5 and move to bottom (top 8 spades) count off 10 (J) and move (8 clubs), swap (A clubs), count off O (King Hearts) swap (8 Clubs), count off H (2 hearts), swap (King Hearts), count off N, (4 Hearts), swap (2 hearts)
Top card value: 28.

Output card 10 Diamonds.
Decrypt: 27 – 23 = 4 = D


This is what I have at the moment. (LQAKD...)
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Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead


PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 4:41 am
Last edited by MageSteff on Tue Nov 04, 2003 9:42 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Madcat82
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 		Perhaps we are attacking this from the wrong angle???
Perhaps what we are looking for is a password and a login...

PostPosted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:10 pm
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MageSteff
Pretty talky there aintcha, Talky?


Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 2716
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Madcat82 wrote:
Perhaps we are attacking this from the wrong angle???
Perhaps what we are looking for is a password and a login...


Give it your best shot Madcat. The more things we try the more likely we shall be in cracking this nut.
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Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead


PostPosted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:23 pm
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Madcat82
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 		okelidokeli.
It could also be some sort of link to a password site... Il get cracking.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 5:33 pm
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katya2032
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Joined: 08 Sep 2003
Posts: 149
Location: Texas

 		Very crazy idea here, folks, so bear with me. All chess pieces, with the exception of the king, has a point total attached to them. Pawn is 1 point, knights and bishops are 3 points, rooks are 5 points and the queen is 9 points. So, what if we are looking at another chess game, only the points are out of order?

First column would be white and the second black. The first grouping would be 22-20.

I figure white would have the queen, two rooks (or two knights/bishops and four pawns) and, here it is tricky, one knight/bishop or three pawns.

It would be like those word math problems we had in school. By the total number of points we should be able to figure it out. However, I think black gets to the white's side and swaps a pawn with another piece and that's why the number jumps on that side.

We just need to figure out what is on the board and what the next move would be after it. I'm just throwing junk on the table.

PostPosted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 12:29 am
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