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 Forum index » Diversions » TimeWasters
Geocaching puzzle
Moderators: Giskard, ndemeter, ScarpeGrosse
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HardCore
Boot

Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 11

Geocaching puzzle

Hi all,

Months ago I received this puzzle from my wife:
http://www.giliad.fi/caches/GC1M059/

Didn't have much time back then, but now have used some time trying to figure out where to start. I'm not into geocaching but I would like to being able to solve puzzles.

I'm not asking for solutions, I'm asking for hints where to start.

Thank you in advance

PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:30 am
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catherwood
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee

Joined: 25 Sep 2002
Posts: 4109
Location: Silicon Valley, CA

Re: Geocaching puzzle

HardCore wrote:
I'm not asking for solutions, I'm asking for hints where to start.

Places to start:
Letter frequency.
View html source.
Click on link.
Put everything in a spreadsheet.
Stare blankly.
(Seriously, I am intrigued and will look at this later today.)

3.5 hours later today...
I solved it. I did a lot of manual work in a spreadsheet, and learned what the .xsl file does. How to begin? Gather the data, keep track of everything (although some data turns out to be smoke and mirrors). and be prepared to sort the spreadsheet. I can give you more hints, but perhaps you should give it a go yourself and then let me know where you get stuck.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 2:02 pm
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HardCore
Boot

Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 11

I think I've missed something really obvious here. I've tried to look for the clues in the lines containing strings of fives found in the source of the html-file linking to the construct.xsl without any luck.

Theories:
-The html source file contains the message, it's in the lines which values contains spaces or links OR the message are the strings in source not found in the construct.xsl or vice versa.
-construct.xsl is used to sort the message to the right order.
-simple letter substitution
-forget about the characters, focus to the numbers

Am I on the right path?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 6:22 am
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catherwood
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee

Joined: 25 Sep 2002
Posts: 4109
Location: Silicon Valley, CA

It's possible you missed something really obvious here, but you did hit it in your list of theories:
-construct.xsl is used to sort the message to the right order.

The scramble of 2,458 items visible on the page is the ciphertext. Viewing the HTML shows each item has a unique id-tag. The CSS file gives each one a color, a font size, and a position on the page -- none of which matters. The XSL file gives you the order to take the items. (In theory, clicking on the link might redraw the text, but that didn't work for me.)

After you get the text in the correct order, there are a few more steps to take with some of the cleartext, but at least one string near the front will let you know you've done the first step correctly. Good luck!

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 11:35 am
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HardCore
Boot

Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 11

Haven't put any effort to this today, it's still morning here.

So basically taking away the CSS file would leave the text in right order?

EDIT: That can't be right...

PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:28 am
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