11
A detective is solving a case where a Vigenère cipher was used. The key used is "KEY" and the encrypted message is "LXFOPVEFRNHR". What is the decoded message?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Answer & Solution
Solution:

The Vigenère cipher is a polyalphabetic substitution cipher that uses a keyword to encrypt the plaintext. To decrypt, you reverse the process.

  1. Key Repetition: Write the key repeatedly above the ciphertext: KEYKEYKEYKEYKEY LXFOPVEFRNHR
  2. Numerical Conversion: Convert letters to numbers (A=0, B=1... Z=25): K(10) E(4) Y(24) K(10) E(4) Y(24) K(10) E(4) Y(24) K(10) E(4) Y(24) L(11) X(23) F(5) O(15) P(14) V(21) E(4) F(5) R(17) N(13) H(7) R(17)
  3. Decryption: Subtract the key number from the ciphertext number for each corresponding pair. If the result is negative, add 26 (the number of letters in the alphabet) to get a positive number within the range 0-25.
    • L(11) - K(10) = 1 = B
    • X(23) - E(4) = 19 = T
    • F(5) - Y(24) = -19 + 26 = 7 = H
    • O(15) - K(10) = 5 = F
    • P(14) - E(4) = 10 = K
    • V(21) - Y(24) = -3 + 26 = 23 = X
    • E(4) - K(10) = -6 + 26 = 20 = U
    • F(5) - E(4) = 1 = B
    • R(17) - Y(24) = -7 + 26 = 19 = T
    • N(13) - K(10) = 3 = D
    • H(7) - E(4) = 3 = D
    • R(17) - Y(24) = -7 + 26 = 19 = T
  4. Convert Back to Letters: Convert the numbers back to letters: 1 19 7 5 10 23 20 1 19 3 3 19 = B T H F K X U B T D D T


12
A detective receives a transposition cipher with the following encrypted message: "OMIT THE NUMBERS". What is the original message if the letters are rearranged?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Answer & Solution
Solution:

In a transposition cipher, the order of the letters is rearranged. When rearranged, the original message becomes THE NUMBERS OMIT.

13
A detective finds a message that was encoded using ROT13 encryption. The encrypted message is " yrggrfe". What is the decoded message?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Answer & Solution
Solution:

The ROT13 cipher shifts each letter by 13 positions in the alphabet.

y shifted 13 places becomes l

r shifted 13 places becomes e

g shifted 13 places becomes t

g shifted 13 places becomes t

r shifted 13 places becomes e

e shifted 13 places becomes r

f shifted 13 places becomes s

Thus, the decoded message is LETTERS.