FK I'M CRACKPROOF

8/23/2017

The 408 cipher cracked by Donald Harden. Click image for link.

The following will not propose a solution to the 13-Symbol cipher because the limited characters in the code make that simply impossible without a key - and the Zodiac Killer must surely have known that based on his 408 and 340 ciphers, even if he had limited cipher experience. However, a search for the solution may not be necessary, as the Zodiac Killer may have given us the answer just five and a half months later. The Zodiac Killer vowed to give us his name in his earlier 408 cipher, only to renege on that promise. Therefore, the idea that he would reveal his name in the April 20th 1970 correspondence is equally unlikely. But he may have given us an abbreviated answer, which from the standpoint of incrimination, is virtually non-existent.

The October 5th 1970 13-Hole Postcard has links to the 13-Symbol cipher for obvious reasons, but the author of the postcard does paste some unusual text, notably "Fk, I'm crackproof. What is the price tag now?" Is there a correlation to the 13-Symbol cipher? Immediately after "Fk, I'm crackproof", the author asks about the price tag on his head. Immediately after the 13-Symbol cipher on the April 20th 1970 correspondence, the author writes "I am mildly cerous as to how much money you have on my head now". So what is the likelihood "Fk, I'm crackproof" precedes this question also. It would make sense when the April 20th 1970 communication is read as a whole: "This is the Zodiac speaking. By the way have you cracked the last cipher I sent you. My name is FK, I'm crackproof". The phrase would be 14 characters and infinitely circular in configuration, beginning and ending with the letter F as shown below. The problem with an answer such as this, is that identical ciphertext characters are represented by different plaintext characters, thereby breaking the pattern of standard cryptography.

The letters K and M line up nicely in the code, yet on its own it is pretty worthless. Could the killer's initials be FK or KF, on account of the upside-down text on the 13-Hole postcard, or could the killer simply want us to believe this is the case. The FK in close proximity occurs seven times in the 340 cipher, but much more significantly, the eye is drawn to the 'mistake' on line six, where the author of the cipher elevates the letter K in reverse, next to the letter F. The author of the 13-Hole postcard effectively rotates both letters through 180 degrees, again reversing the letter K.

The Exorcist Letter mailed on January 29th 1974 looks somewhat similar to the sixth line of the 340 cipher, in that the strange symbolism at the foot of the letter appears to marry up. It contains what looks like a letter F, and to its elevated left is an upside-down K. But there is much more correlation, in that five of the characters on the Exorcist letter bear a striking resemblance to five of the characters by the FK on the 340 Cipher. 340-cipher-and-exorcist-link

The elevated and reversed letter K, is positioned to the left of the letter F in both the 340 cipher sixth line and the Exorcist letter symbolism. It is again reversed and positioned to the left of the letter F in "Fk, I'm crackproof" on the 13-Hole postcard. If the Zodiac Killer lived within a 10 minute walking radius of the Springs and Tuolumne payphone, then by examining land registry records in 1969 for males with FK or KF initials and cross checking their vital statistics (including photographs), it would go a long way to deciding whether this is just another pattern in a rich tapestry of Zodiac imaginings.

http://www.zodiacciphers.com/zodiac-news/the-fictitious-negro-male

28 Comments

Alex Lewis link

8/24/2017 08:15:26 am

Hey Rich, Interesting. I've speculated previously in regards to this 'FK, I'm Crack-Proof' statement as to what the FK could mean. Most seem to simply assume that it is short-hand for The Word F*CK, A word classified as profanity which if He wrote in full He knew would not get passed the Editors editing to print in a paper so instead used an abbreviated version of FK.

For Me, I've speculated as to whether it is an abbreviation of two words rather a name such as FK = Fouke Knows. Then it would read as 'Fouke Knows, I am Crack-Proof.' Why would this make any sense? Because Fouke is alleged to have stopped and spoke to Zodiac on Oct 11th and His Partner, Eric Zelms, Widow stated Zelms told Her before His death that He and Fouke spoke to Zodiac 'Face to Face.' If that is the case, then maybe Don Fouke recognised the man and this in turn was why He allowed Him to walk away from an area in which He is yards from a homicide scene that just minutes ago took place and not, as has been claimed by authorities, because the dispatcher gave an incorrect description.

However Rich, I do have to say in the interest of accuracy, Zodiac never said in the first letters regarding the 408 Cipher that His name was in the 408 cipher and cracking it would reveal as such. He simply stated that His identity was in it, which could be a number of things other than an actual name depending on the persons perspective. For example, it may refer to a job description or profession rather than an actual name of a person. 'In this cipher is my identity' and then, just as an example: 'Teacher' may then somewhere appear and that, in the writers mind, is His identity or who He is.

As you know mate, Christopher Hitchens often quipped that: 'Writing is not just what I do, but it is who I am.' Then would offer: "I live to write opposed to write to live. In other words writing may be my profession and how One defines what I do, but being a writer it's what I am and not just what I do."

Maybe Zodiac saw His profession or used it to define who He was too?

Richard

8/24/2017 08:51:22 am

"There are reports city police pig cops are closeing in on me, Fouke knows I'm crackproof. What is the price tag now."
It certainly flows well Alex and makes perfect sense regarding Zodiac being stopped by Donald Fouke and then let on his way. If you look at the pasted text, the F is capitalized and the K isn't, so it follows F is a name, and k is a standard English word. Also he mentions 'city police', with the letter dated October 5th, almost the year anniversary of the Stine murder. I don't believe the 'swearing' reference, it makes little sense grammatically: "There are reports city police pig cops are closeing in on me, Fuck, I'm crackproof. What is the price tag now."
I don't know whether the letter k was just selected as lower case through convenience (as a cutting) or selected deliberately. If it was the latter, then your thoughts bear greater significance, the two letters being comprised of a name and a word. Donald Fouke being the only officer to let the Zodiac slip through his grasp likely emboldened the Zodiac, giving him the impression he was untouchable or crackproof. Some may wonder why the Zodiac didn't just paste "Fouke knows", but the Zodiac never mentioned any victims or investigators by name, so this isn't surprising. Plus Zodiac liked his word games. I like this theory of yours Alex. Good spot.

Richard

8/24/2017 09:04:13 am

Additionally the Yellow Cab Company put up a reward after the Stine murder, so Zodiac referring to a "price tag" could be in reference to this particular slaying. Plus his reference to pigs started with the 'Bus Bomb' letter just after the October 11th 1969 murder. Got any ideas Alex on the 13 punched holes on the right side of the postcard.

Richard

8/24/2017 09:25:32 am

"A hole punch (also known as a hole puncher) is a common office tool that is used to create holes in sheets of paper, often for the purpose of collecting the sheets in a binder or folder. A leather punch, of different construction from one designed for paper, is used for leather goods, cloth, or thin plastic sheeting. Hole punch tools are also made for use on sheet metal, such as aluminum siding or metal air ducts." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hole_punch
How common was it to find a hole punch in somebodies home in 1970. Could this indicate a profession. We presume he had artistic tendencies.

Alex Lewis

8/24/2017 09:34:02 am

"If you look at the pasted text, the F is capitalized and the K isn't, so it follows F is a name, and k is a standard English word."

Fair and good point you raise above Rich. However, in addressing Paul Avery in one letter He correctly Capitalises P and A but even though He Underlines a portion before misspelling Avery as Averly. However, more significantly, He sends another and on this envelope this time He says: attn: Paul averly." Here He correctly capitalises P in Paul but uses lower case rather than upper case A in addressing Paul 'averly'. So, it's not like He hasn't done this before and it must be deliberate as He addresses him correct on another envelope as 'Paul Averly - SF Chronicle. 5th Mission, San Francisco.' Then writing to the Times Editor adds 'attn. Paul averly'

Alex Lewis

8/24/2017 09:38:11 am

But yes, the F being Capitalised and not the K is fitting if F stands for a Name or Person and K referring to a word that isn't a name which means Fk = Fouke knows fits perfectly. I am not saying it is certainly this but as you say, given the context He is writing and the fact that the one City Cop who would know if Z was indeed a off limits or influential person would be Donald Fouke, a City Cop who stopped and spoke to Him 'face to face' and despite knowing a shooting has just gone down meters away, let him walk away from that stoppage.

Alex Lewis

8/24/2017 09:59:22 am

I've said Rich in other places that Fouke recognizing Him or if not instantly then Identifying Him via radio to get told 'Yes subject John Doe's last know residence is xxxx xx Pacific Heights. Mr Doe is a former Technician for City of San Fran Crime scene investigation Dpt. Mr Doe is employed at present as The Managing Tech of Vallejo's Police Dpt. Crime Lab and is considered an expert on Fingerprint recognition and identification." Then Mr Fouke offers His apology "Sir, I apologise for this inconvenience but I am sure you understand the reason for it..."

Widow Zelms is alleged to have said, and I say alleged because in a Court of law this would be disallowed as simple 'Hearsay', that Eric told Her that not only did He and Don stop and speak with a male, but that they had done so by exiting their car and speaking to Him face to face. Eric stated Himself and Fouke saw nothing that would give them cause or reason to suspect this man as He, quote 'Answered all our questions and spoke calmly and showed no sign of nervousness or anything' before ending with an observation of 'Nothing stood out about Him, He just looked like your average and ordinary man.'

I've often thought Rich I wonder if Foukes adamant refusal to admit to stopping and speaking to the man is because if it did ever get solved and Z's identity revealed Fouke is aware that if He admitted to a previous stop and face to face chat with suspect that people will immediately look straight to Him to ask 'How did you not know and say this is who you saw that night? You must have known when you spoke to Him on the Street that night who He was!"

Whereas if He denies all ideas and allegations of a stop and chat, then if and when Zodiac's identity is revealed as David Toschi (Just an example for the purpose of this post and it's context obviously) then Fouke can legitimately dismiss the idea He recognized or knew this man by denying He stopped Him because once He admits to having done so, there is no getting away from the question of why He never revealed knowing who He was that He spoke with that Night back on Oct 11 of 69!

Richard

8/24/2017 10:41:11 am

What is really surprising is that Donald Fouke, bearing in mind he got a closer look at the suspect than the three teenagers, why his superiors never got him to sit down with a sketch artist independent of the three teenagers, to see if the two correlated. Whether the amended sketch had his input is irrelevant, it should never have come to that. Had two independent sketches been made, one from Fouke and one from the teenagers, we may now know on the validity of the sketch with a little more assurance. Surely this would have been routine police work and common sense. Why would investigators say to Donald Fouke "have a look at the sketch by the kids, then add to it" or then sit down with a sketch artist and create your own, now you have been unduly biased. We know the first sketch was by the teenagers because it was modified to reflect the 35-45 estimation by Fouke. He also said when the composite was put up in Richmond Station he thought the suspect was a little older and heavier. This plays into your idea, that they almost 'covered over' his sighting, either through the embarrassment of letting the suspect on his way, or because the suspect was recognized by Fouke. I find it difficult to believe Fouke recognized the suspect, but certainly the FK up in allowing the suspect on his way, certainly led to the belated November 12th memorandum. The Zodiac exposing this stop, and Pelissetti stating Fouke had stopped Zodiac, eventually forced the SFPD into the watered down memorandum, with negro underlined, as if to emphasize the point there was a negro male, which I know we both find highly unlikely. It was a poor cover explaining why Fouke passed the suspect. This baloney was exposed in the 2007 documentary when Donald Fouke effectively contradicted himself about why he claimed he didn't stop the white male. He thought he lived in the area, and then stated he didn't think he lived in the area, all inside of a minute. As we both know, Fouke 100% stopped Zodiac. His trek into Arguello shows he was directed there. There is no other reason to be heading away from an assault and robbery of a taxicab driver. He should have been administering help, not driving away from Washington and Cherry.

Alex Lewis

8/24/2017 08:33:44 am

To add further Rich, if Zodiac was involved any field of Law Enforcement Himself, or if not Himself a Law Official any capacity but knew a 3rd party that was in a fairly high ranked position then, 'My Name Is... I'm Crack proof' would work for Me in as much as He could be stating My Name is . . . crack-proof or in other words, because of who I am I am simply off limits and not just figuratively speaking, but literally am shielded and crack-proof.

I also said elsewhere Rich that Zodiac's choice of word and phrases should not be overlooked or it's significance ignored because we know we are dealing with an individual who engages in word games and took time to construct the 408 cipher which would have been a fairly time consuming thing to do when you consider that what was written as the message hiding behind it was completely useless in terms of it needing an encryption.

So when Z uses the term 'Crack Proof' to define His status in terms of potential to be apprehended, I don't think it is a off the cuff term or remark he is choosing to use and like 'Bullet Proof' is a term that we may use for a vest worn by law enforcement to literally and physically stop bullets dead before they penetrate the torso of police officers wearing that vest, I don't think Z's term of Crack Proof should be taken to mean anything dis-similar. He could very likely be saying there is a physical barrier in between Himself and LE Capturing Him too similar to the bullet proof vest analogy.

Alex Lewis

8/24/2017 09:16:25 am

Donald and Bettye Harden's Daughter did appear at a Zodiac convention hosted by Special Guest Dr David Van Nuys, the Co-Author of Michael Kelleher's 'This is the Zodiac Speaking: Into the Mind of a Serial Killer.' Donald was still alive but old age and illness meant He did not attend the event but smiled and told His daughter "Go. . . Go tell them all about the Code!" Which She then did.

She stated that Her own memories of this ordeal were quite vivid in that She associated this code and it's publishing along with Her Father's near obsession with cracking it with a element of fear, foreboding and general evil. She said Her Father first sat down and tackled the code and it took almost an entire weekend for Himself and His Wife Bettye to crack it. She said She believed that Her Fathers rational approach with Her Mothers intuitive and 'Psychic like' approach and interest in Graphology made for the perfect team.

She remembered Her Father had always had a very keen interest in Cryptography and stated that He had got down from His own book shelf to assist in the deciphering of the Zodiac's code His copy of Fletcher Pratt's 'Secret & Urgent - A History of Codes and Ciphers'. She said Her Mother said She felt as if She knew the mind of this killer and what it was that drove Him to Kill, which I personally have always thought was an odd remark. Anyway, the Video is online of Hardens Daughter speaking at the Roxy Theatre so anyone interested can youtube it.

Bettye's Daughter also suggested that Her Mother had decoded the 340 and hidden it in a wall panel of their former home but that when the Daughter checked, it had gone and She speculated Her mother, Bettye, Had gone back to retrieve it. Did she crack it and then hide it because of what it appeared to reveal? No Idea, but if Bettye did write the message found in the front and Back pages of R.G's book 'Zodiac' in a Salinas Library that Read:

"This is My Story! I started the Zodiac Case, and ended it! The last half of this book is theory! When I write the true ending it will Shake The Earth! (Signed) Bettye Harden."

Richard

8/24/2017 09:51:29 am

"This is My Story! I started the Zodiac Case, and ended it! The last half of this book is theory! When I write the true ending it will Shake The Earth! (Signed) Bettye Harden."
Some people took this to mean she knew who the killer was, leading to speculation her husband Donald was the Zodiac Killer. I don't believe that for a minute. The claims about the 340 cipher being decoded by her mother and placed in a wall panel sounds a bit melodramatic and far-fetched if you ask me. But interesting nonetheless.

Alex Lewis

8/24/2017 10:28:33 am

I agree mate, as always and 'Like I have always said' (lol) just because I state something another has said or alleged, it doesn't and should be taken to imply, I believe or endorse it. I do have a personal reluctance to accept the given way in which the 408 was approached and the decoding began which was claimed by the Hardens to be one of "This killer is egotistical and as such the first word will be 'I'." Well if the Code came as one complete cipher that would still be a long shot but considering the code came in three parts with it being unknown which one of the three was the first part, the odds of this approach of basically guessing as to what the first word will be being successful is now extremely even more unlikely to result in a successful effort, I cannot believe this code was broken by 'just have a wild guess at this part being the first section, and this word being the first word' method. Then there's the fact that it's a homophonic substitution cipher which means the creator has used more than one symbol to represent the same alphabetical letter so this further reduces the guess method to work or be successful even if u did guess the first word correctly.

PS: Did you send me an email a few days ago Rich, I am sure you did but I didn't read it at the time and logged in earlier to read it and cannot find it. If you have it in your sent messages mate hit 'Resend' or Forward it to me again mate as I seem to have either misplaced it or accidentally deleted it.

Richard

8/24/2017 10:49:49 am

No, only the one about your new found celebrity. Soon this site will be beneath you Alex. I hope you still grace us with your presence when you hit the boardwalk. Only kidding your Royal Welsh Highness.

Richard the mortal

8/24/2017 10:53:17 am

Keep me in touch with any info on the documentary Alex.

Richard

8/24/2017 10:55:20 am

You need to write a post on "There are reports city police pig cops are closeing in on me, Fouke knows I'm crackproof. What is the price tag now." I like it.

Alex Lewis

8/24/2017 12:38:25 pm

"You need to write a post on "There are reports city police pig cops are closeing in on me, Fouke knows I'm crackproof. What is the price tag now." I like it. "

Funnily enough when I was replying here I was half thinking of not posting it here but posting it in an article in My own section.

And Na, I may joke about but I wouldn't let any number of approaches from Channels go to My head Rich and refuse to come here. I'll still be here posting no matter what cause I won't adopt the Voigt's own self incriminating words of "But then when I started to get media attention, that really raised the bar to another level." Yeah, and His arrogance, too. I detest that kind of arrogance that believing your above others now cause u been on this TV Show or that Documentary. Mark My Words.....That will not happen to Me! :-)

Alex Lewis AKA The Divine One

8/24/2017 12:27:29 pm

I shall not let My new A-List Celebrity status go to My head. It's not as if I have rushed out and purchased a Crown and Sceptre and asked for a Throne to be seated in with the Caption 'Alex the Great (ist). The Zodiac Case King!' Hehe.

I will keep you informed Rich but as you know, I have signed a non disclosure Contract so Can't say anything specific about what the channel are doing or the specifics of the episode itself. I can and will keep you updated as to the basic's in terms of what I am doing specifically.

Please now all rise for the Kings departure! ***Trumpet blasts!***

Carl Karas

8/24/2017 06:44:54 pm

I was ready for my 340 solution to be blown out of the water by your clever detection, Mr Grinell, but no dice! The backwards K, F, and greater-than symbols from line 6 = T O N. For Anthony. See my solution post on the FB page, and my most recent 13 letter cipher post there as well. More confirmation

Alex Lewis

8/24/2017 09:20:56 pm

Hey Carl, most people dismiss the attempt but have You read the Robert Graysmith decoding of the 340? Whatever You think of R.G, good bad or indifferent, His proposed 340 deciphered message is very interesting.

"HERB CARN: I GAVE THEM HELL, TOO.
BLAST THESE LIES! SLEUTH SHOULD SEE A NAME
BELOW KILLERS FILM. A PILLS GAME. PARON ME
AGCEPT TO BLAST ME. BULLSHIT!
THOSE FOOLS SHALL MEET THE KILLER. PLEASE,
ASK LUNDBLAD."

The above is simply the first half of a somewhat legible message which, in parts, is hard to read as a message due to it reading in very bad broken English yet, interesting none the less!

Alex Lewis

8/24/2017 09:26:23 pm

Rich have you read Kelleher and Van Nuys 'This is The Z Spkn: Into the Mind of a Serial Killer?'

It's a book I would highly recommend due to it having no bias whatsoever for a particular suspect or any 'End Game' it works toward. I had to buy it off Amazon as couldn't find it in local libraries or book shops so if You haven't read it and would like to, let Me know and email me Your address or Post Office or any pick up location you'd like to pick it up from and I will send the book via Royal Mail.
'

Carl Karas

8/25/2017 06:44:52 am

I like Grey smith as a writer. I've read some of his non Z true crime books and they're terrific. I like the Z books too but I think his train derailed somewhere along the line. His 340 is one example. He shouldn't have pressed the Allen thing so hard either. But it did seem so tempting. Here's what I came up with, Just the first part: IT/INTERESTED/ME/A/TON/OIE/GET/EN/ON/THE/FUN/A/TON/A/KNIFE/OR/A/GUN/?TAEEI/PEGGY/FROM/NO/NINE/FONN .. many hints throughout of Xenophon and Anthony, ie .. TON, FONN. Thanks for asking Alex

Michael Copperthorne

8/27/2017 11:48:09 am

Than you. Interesting observation about linkage of symbols at bottom of exorcist letter and 340 cipher. I am wondering if the exorcist symbols show a rearrangement or decoding pattern for the 340.
If there is a linkage, it is unlikely fk has anything to do with Fouke given the timing.

Richard

8/27/2017 01:49:41 pm

If the 340 cipher was genuine, then possibly somewhere in his later communications the Zodiac Killer was introducing 'keys' or subtle hints to its deciphering. Some people have demonstrated a possible link with the Halloween Card, and above is a suggestion for the Exorcist letter. Whether they are real or imagined is another question. I certainly don't claim the above is anything more than just coincidence, only noteworthy. Knowing what we know of the Zodiac Killer, I find it difficult to believe he didn't tease us with a 'hidden' clue to the 340 cipher in his later offerings, but then again he doesn't operate on the same level as ordinary citizens. But he has linked other correspondence together such as the Button letter and Little List letter. When he realized people were having difficulty in understanding his map and code, he offered the radian clue and crosshairs with the black circle as a hint. So he was prepared to 'aid' struggling investigators. Something he may have done with the 408 code key letter and possibly the 340 cipher. We just may not fully recognize it....yet.

10/21/2017 10:20:33 pm

have a very interesting name to share was looking over the page and inside the letter is a name looked it up and whats funny is this guy is a writer and college professor

blue

1/15/2018 04:46:21 pm

robert at ucr?

Ray Jenkins

11/5/2017 08:13:03 pm

Graysmith's solution sounds too forced to me. Like most of the solutions I have seen to date, they seem very stilted, jarring and fragmented. Often they appear to be more the result of highly subjective interpretation and imagination than anything else. The ideal solution should flow smoothly and coherently from start to finish, just as we see in the 408.

However the 340 is different. There are less characters but more symbols. This increases the variability (and therefore the likelihood of working it out successfully) by many millions.

I recently tried the following experiment to prove just how easy it would have been for the Zodiac to obfuscate his cipher in a very short space of time.

I have taken a passage from Alice in Wonderland to illustrate my point.

Here is the original text, with spaces, punctuation and line breaks removed:

ItwastheWhiteRabbittrottingslowlybackagainandlookinganxiouslyaboutasitwentasifithadlostsomethingandshehearditmutteringtoitselfTheDuchessTheDuchessOhmydearpawsOhmyfurandwhiskersShellgetmeexecutedassureasferretsareferretsWherecanIhavedroppedthemIwonderAliceguessedinamomentthatitwaslookingforthefanandthepairofwhitekidglovesandsheverygoodnatu

First I encrypted this as a simple ASCII numerical encryption, as follows:

73 116 119 97 115 116 104 101 87 104 105 116 101 82 97 98 98
105 116 116 114 111 116 116 105 110 103 115 108 111 119 108 121 98
97 99 107 97 103 97 105 110 97 110 100 108 111 111 107 105 110
103 97 110 120 105 111 117 115 108 121 97 98 111 117 116 97 115
105 116 119 101 110 116 97 115 105 102 105 116 104 97 100 108 111
115 116 115 111 109 101 116 104 105 110 103 97 110 100 115 104 101
104 101 97 114 100 105 116 109 117 116 116 101 114 105 110 103 116
111 105 116 115 101 108 102 84 104 101 68 117 99 104 101 115 115
84 104 101 68 117 99 104 101 115 115 79 104 109 121 100 101 97
114 112 97 119 115 79 104 109 121 102 117 114 97 110 100 119 104
105 115 107 101 114 115 83 104 101 108 108 103 101 116 109 101 101
120 101 99 117 116 101 100 97 115 115 117 114 101 97 115 102 101
114 114 101 116 115 97 114 101 102 101 114 114 101 116 115 87 104
101 114 101 99 97 110 73 104 97 118 101 100 114 111 112 112 101
100 116 104 101 109 73 119 111 110 100 101 114 65 108 105 99 101
103 117 101 115 115 101 100 105 110 97 109 111 109 101 110 116 116
104 97 116 105 116 119 97 115 108 111 111 107 105 110 103 102 111
114 116 104 101 102 97 110 97 110 100 116 104 101 112 97 105 114
111 102 119 104 105 116 101 107 105 100 103 108 111 118 101 115 97
110 100 115 104 101 118 101 114 121 103 111 111 100 110 97 116 117

Her is the solution provided by decryption software: As you can see the software has no problem decrypting the cipher and does so in about 2 seconds flat. That is the same amount of time it takes the same software to decrypt the Zodiac's 408 cipher.

STWASTHEWHITERABB
ITTROTTINGSLOWLYB
ACKAGAINANDLOOKIN
GANXIOUSLYABOUTAS
ITWENTASIFITHADLO
STSOMETHINGANDSHE
HEARDITMUTTERINGT
OITSELFTHEMUCHESS
THEMUCHESSCHMYDEA
RPAWSCHMYFURANDWH
ISKERSCHELLGETMEE
XECUTEDASSUREASFE
RRETSAREFERRETSWH
ERECANSHAVEDROPPE
DTHEMSWONDERALICE
GUESSEDINAMOMENTT
HATITWASLOOKINGFO
RTHEFANANDTHEPAIR
OFWHITEKIDGLOVESA
NDSHEVERYGOODNATU

As you can see the solution is almost spot on, apart from a few letters that occasionally get transposed incorrectly.

Now, here is the same ASCII obfuscated. The clue to my method of obfuscation is "FOR-TEEN".

114 114 104 101 102 97 114 101 115 116 114 114 101 116 115 87 101
105 108 98 103 110 116 116 105 111 114 115 116 111 119 108 121 116
104 107 111 111 108 119 97 115 116 105 111 97 105 110 103 102 116
103 98 115 121 108 111 117 115 105 120 97 97 111 117 116 97 110
105 116 111 102 105 116 97 115 110 101 105 116 104 97 100 108 119
111 117 115 101 104 108 102 84 101 115 68 105 99 104 101 115 116
104 101 116 116 117 105 116 109 100 114 116 101 114 105 110 103 97
110 111 117 103 121 118 101 114 101 104 111 100 100 110 97 116 115
84 104 97 115 115 99 104 101 117 68 79 104 109 121 100 101 101
114 114 104 102 121 79 104 109 115 119 117 112 97 110 100 119 97
105 103 101 108 101 115 83 104 114 101 108 115 101 116 109 101 107
120 114 101 115 115 101 100 97 116 117 117 101 101 97 115 102 99
73 116 98 104 87 116 104 101 115 97 105 116 101 82 97 98 119
101 100 101 118 97 110 73 104 97 99 101 114 114 111 112 112 101
100 114 101 100 110 73 119 111 109 101 101 116 65 108 105 99 104
103 111 116 97 110 101 100 105 115 115 109 117 109 101 110 116 101
97 108 110 110 97 97 105 110 103 97 100 99 111 111 107 105 107
114 104 114 100 110 97 110 97 102 101 116 116 101 112 97 105 104
111 108 97 100 105 116 101 107 105 104 103 102 111 118 101 115 119
115 97 101 110 105 101 116 104 109 111

Ray Jenkins

11/5/2017 08:21:47 pm

103 116 110 100 115 104 115

Here is the solution provided by Decryption Software after 30 minutes. The obfuscation has stumped the software and returned gibberish as a solution.

CCHASICALTCCATLEA
SNORETTSOCLTODNOT
HNOONDILTSOISERST
ROLONOFLSDIIOFTIE
STOSSTILEASTHINND
OFLAHNSEALESTHALT
HATTFSTENCTACSERI
EOFROMACAHONNEITL
EHILLTHAFETHEONAA
CCHSOTHELDFRIENDI
SRANALTHCANLATEAN
DCALLANITFFAAILST
STOHETHALISTARIOD
ANAMIESHITACCORRA
NCANESDOEAATINSTH
ROTIEANSLLEFEAETA
INEEIISERINTOONSN
CHCNEIEISATTARISH
ONINSTANSHRSOMALD
LIAESATHEORTENLHL

Here is the method I used to obfuscate the cipher.

Clue is "FOR-TEEN". Basically, all I did was swap around some of the rows and columns, based on the number 14 as a rudimentary mathematical "clue".

So I switched rows 1 and 13, rows 20 and 6, rows 6 and 8, rows 17 and 3.

Then I switched columns 17 and 3, columns 5 and 9, columns 2 and 12, and columns 4 and 10.

I have often wondered if the Zodiac's running tally was intended to suggest which rows and columns he may have switched, or perhaps the holes in the Halloween card show which ones to swap around. I've tried various swaps, but so far have not found a combination that provides a straightforward and cohesive decryption. Once we find the right combination, software like AZDecrypt should be able to find the solution in about 2 seconds without further iteration.

I think it offended the Zodiac greatly that his first cipher got solved so quickly. But I think he was stuck on homophonic ciphers. He knew the next cipher would be solved all too easily, so when he sent the second one out he had to quickly come up with a way to obfuscate it. The most obvious way for anyone to achieve this is to get a pair of scissors and cut out several of the rows and columns and re-arrange them. I suspect he really only wanted to make his cipher difficult, but ended up making it impossible. Without knowing the exact sequence of swaps, it would be near impossible for anyone to re-construct the rows and columns the way they should be.

I do believe the 340 says something, but until we can work out exactly what he did to obfuscate it, or we can find the original key (i.e. row and column sequence), I think there is little hope of ever making the 340 speak to us.

just a review

11/3/2018 04:27:10 am

AZDecrypt is crap. Gives many promising yet ultimately false solutions that get your hopes up then if you show them to the author of the software he tells you your methods are wrong and basically accuses you of trying to perpetrate a hoax. The software is very buggy and prone to losing data if anyone clicks on the wrong button by accident. Do not bother with it. The 340 cipher cannot be solved and even if it is nobody will ever believe it. Only the Zodiac knows the real solution and he may be long dead.

FK I'M CRACKPROOF

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