Steemcypher #1
After almost half of June and the first steemcypher is still unsolved! This means more has been added to the pot! Currently, the prize pool is up to 31 SBD + $9 in Bitcoin plus whatever gets generated from this post.
More Hints
So, I think I made this first one way too difficult. Therefore...HINTS!
- The song title is a famous hit featuring Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.
- The keyword for this puzzle will start on the letter "I" of the alphabet and is 10 letters long.
- The correct brainwallet passphrase FOR THIS PUZZLE will be of the form:
KEYWORD+351+169+815+###+###+###+###+###+##
- With these extra hints, I've taken down the number of possible brainwallet combinations from 1,679,616 to 7,776. Really hoping this will help Steemit come up with the solution!!!!
Happy Deciphering!
Up to the first five accurate responses will be rewarded. However, if you are the only one to solve, you will sweep the entire prize pool! Remember - You must upvote this thread to be eligible for the reward! I've also placed a section at the end of this post for a reminder of how to solve a steemcypher. Good luck Steemit!
Secret Message: Juiegj Opbpj Tk Uesf
Public Bitcoin Address: 1GccQZ4RAuYecowZ87nBTkupt7MuctHAd8
Hint: Song Title
HOW DO I SOLVE A STEEMCYPHER?????
Glad you asked! Below is a overview of how to solve a steemcypher. To not give anything away, I am doing this for a different puzzle.
Sample Steemcypher:
Secret Message: Aheem Wmqeg!
Public Bitcoin Address: 16TGN1hcEps75D7uzXf6xKMhgryKXcqsVr
Hint: Someone's First Computer Program
- The puzzle is known as a type of Caesar Cypher, or often commonly called a cryptoquip. Every letter of the alphabet is encoded with one other letter. Except, a keyword with no repeating letters is placed in the alphabet.
- Once you figure out the secret message, in this case "Hello World!", you know that H was encoded with A, E with H, so on and so forth.
- Once you decode the known letters, you need to figure out the keyword!
- This keyword could be placed ANYWHERE in the string A-Z, and all other unused letters would then be placed in alphabetical order in the rest of the locations of the alphabet. An example:
The puzzle solver will have no idea where this keyword is located, which adds a layer of complexity. These puzzles are best solved by looking at distributions of letters and many awesome educated guesses.
Once the message is deciphered, it gets re-encoded with numbers as follows:
The standard for coding letters of the alphabet as follows:
- These numbers will then be split into groups of three like so, with any left over numbers in a group by themselves :
- This group of numbers, along with the keyword, are part of a brainwallet passphrase that generates a bitcoin address. The passphrase will always be of the form:
KEYWORD+###+###+###+###+###+...
- Note, the keyword is in ALL CAPS and there are + signs seperating the groups of three. The catch...
Each group of three numbers is not necessarily in the correct order. You will need to test combinations of each group to determine the correct brainwallet passphrase.
- For instance, say the correct solution to the sample puzzle above is:
- To check if your combination works, go here: https://brainwalletx.github.io/.
- You will know if you found the right brainwallet if it generates the correct public address given with the puzzle!
Math behind the puzzle
- As an aside, for this particular sample puzzle, there were a total of 3,888 possible combinations to test to crack the brainwallet. Only one keyword works in the beginning of the puzzle. In a group of three unique numbers, there are 6 possible ways to mix. In a group of three with only two unique numbers, there are 3 possible ways to mix. In a group with all numbers the same, there would be only 1 possible way to mix. The math behind that is as follows:
Yes, but what do I win?
- First and foremost - YOU MUST UPVOTE THE THREAD! Resteeming not required, but recommended if you would like the prize pool to be higher!
- When you solve the puzzle, locate the private key associated with the public address.
- If you are the first to solve the puzzle, you will claim 25% of the SP from the post. Just be the first one in the comments to type the first three characters from the private key (labeled public exponent) to the thread. You can only post ONCE with your answer. No multiple attempts allowed.
- A winning reply would therefore be the first reply to the comment thread that looks like this:
- If you are second, you will comment the next three characters to the puzzle thread, so on and so forth.
- First to the prize will also have the first opportunity to sweep the bitcoin wallet of its funds, if you desire, because you will be first to have access to the private key. I will be placing a nominal amount of bitcoin here each time proportional to the difficulty of the puzzle. Please sweep the private key and keep as an “extra bounty” for yourself, if desired.
- As far as all prizes, 50% of the overall SP from the post will be distributed as follows:
First place: 25% SP
Second Place: 10% SP
Third-Firth Places: 5% SP
If you are the only one in a one week period to solve the steemcypher, you sweep the pot! If only two solve, you split amongst eachother, so on and so forth.
REMEMBER - YOU MUST HAVE UPVOTED THE POST TO BE ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM THE REWARD!
I figured out the song name on the first day, been trying to find the keyword since then. Thanks for narrowing it down! I'm doing all by hand.
5Hx
Pretty sure I won, as I've already swept the bitcoin that was there ($8 worth if anyone was wondering) :)
I spent about 5-6 hours on this, felt like an idiot the whole time, but eventually got there =)
Congratulations!!!! Let's see how many more can also solve by the end of the week! As of right now, you sweep the pot!
Thanks! Awesome challenge. I didn't know if my attempt was going to work or not, but when I saw that it did I felt amazing =)
Sorry, I'm caught up on one thing about one of the hints. Are you saying the keyword begins with the letter "i"? Or that it is placed at the position of "i" in the alphabet?
Position of "I" in the alphabet