One puzzling aspect of the Zodiac Killer's 340 cipher is his decision to separate the encipherment into three parts of 9, 9 and 2 rows, rather than simply dividing the cipher into two parts. The third section of two rows didn't follow the same technique as the other two parts. Therefore, one could conclude that it was important for the Zodiac Killer to separate the cipher into two equal parts of 9 rows, leaving the final 2 rows for an entirely different purpose, such as his signature on the 20th row. If we assert that the "near Zodiac" signature (ZO∆AIK) on the final row was a deliberate choice and not accidental, it may follow that this misspelling of "Zodiac" was purposely designed as a key.
When we place the correct spelling of "ZODIAC" above the "near Zodiac" of ZO∆AIK, and count the alphabetical difference, the Z to Z requires a 0 shift, the O to O requires a 0 shift, and the D to ∆ requires a 0 shift, giving us three zero's. But when we look at "IAC" to "AIK", we require three shifts of 8, giving us three eight's (which when combined, gives us the three circled 8's seen in the Z13 code). Therefore, we have a 340 cipher split downwards into three parts of 9, 9 and 2 rows, with a "near Zodiac" signature on the 20th line that easily gives us three circled 8's.
If we apply the same technique across the Z13 code, and cycle around the ciphertext to the 9th, 18th and 20th positions (9, 9 and 2), it again completes the 888 signature (shown below)..The 20th position of the Z340 and Z13 puzzles both highlight the 888 signature of Zodiac. When we apply the three shifts of 8 found by comparing ZODIAC to ZO∆AIK into the Z13 code, we get "ME ⊕" ("ME" followed by the Zodiac crosshairs). Two of the signatures used by Zodiac to identify himself in his letters. This has been pointed out previously by the use of "Me" as his signature within the Exorcist letter on January 29th 1974.
If we apply the same technique across the Z13 code, and cycle around the ciphertext to the 9th, 18th and 20th positions (9, 9 and 2), it again completes the 888 signature (shown below)..The 20th position of the Z340 and Z13 puzzles both highlight the 888 signature of Zodiac. When we apply the three shifts of 8 found by comparing ZODIAC to ZO∆AIK into the Z13 code, we get "ME ⊕" ("ME" followed by the Zodiac crosshairs). Two of the signatures used by Zodiac to identify himself in his letters. This has been pointed out previously by the use of "Me" as his signature within the Exorcist letter on January 29th 1974.
David Oranchak In David Oranchak's excellent YouTube video entitled Let's Crack Zodiac, the 340 Cipher is Solved, he stated "The message doesn't really say a whole lot, it's more of the same attention seeking junk of Zodiac. We were disappointed that he didn't put any personally identifying information in the message, but we didn't expect him to. Maybe his name really is in the thirteen character cipher sent almost six months after the 340. Unfortunately there is not much hope of confirming any solutions for such a short cipher without getting lucky and discovering new evidence".
I believe the personally identifying information in the 340 cipher is the "near Zodiac" on the 20th line, that gave us the three circled 8's present in the Z13 ciphertext, which produced "ME" and the "crosshairs" by employing a simple right shift of eight. The Zodiac psuedonym has been shown to be inextricably linked to the three 8's. thereby giving us "Zodiac", "Me" and the "crosshairs" in the Z13 code. The Z13 code is believed by many Zodiac researchers to be too short to solve, but by combining it with the 340 cipher it effectively becomes a 353 character cipher, where traveling 9, 9, and 2 downwards and across in both Z340 cipher and Z13 code, ultimately finds the key of 888. Which we can then apply using three right shifts of eight to reveal two further identities of "ME" and "⊕".
FURTHER READING: SAME METHODOLOGY BETWEEN Z340 AND Z13
FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OF "ME"
I believe the personally identifying information in the 340 cipher is the "near Zodiac" on the 20th line, that gave us the three circled 8's present in the Z13 ciphertext, which produced "ME" and the "crosshairs" by employing a simple right shift of eight. The Zodiac psuedonym has been shown to be inextricably linked to the three 8's. thereby giving us "Zodiac", "Me" and the "crosshairs" in the Z13 code. The Z13 code is believed by many Zodiac researchers to be too short to solve, but by combining it with the 340 cipher it effectively becomes a 353 character cipher, where traveling 9, 9, and 2 downwards and across in both Z340 cipher and Z13 code, ultimately finds the key of 888. Which we can then apply using three right shifts of eight to reveal two further identities of "ME" and "⊕".
FURTHER READING: SAME METHODOLOGY BETWEEN Z340 AND Z13
FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OF "ME"
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