April 06, 2011

FBI Can't Crack This Code. Can You?

I believe that mostly everyone loves to watch movies with spies, codes, missions, secret agents etc. etc


For girls, we might get interested with the smoking hot actors wearing suits, and driving super expensive cars and act like he can do everything
And boys, the definite thing they like about spies movies is the ladies. Sexayy ladies
For kids, mostly would love the super cool gadgets they use in the movies, like the invisible cloak or the super-cool-tuxedo-that-can-make-you-do-anything or the cool computers and all those cool stunts.
So what i want to say is spies movies are just COOL. full stop.

And I dare to say, everyone do think that it would be very awesome if we can be a part of this secret society.
Yeah, it's a mere daydreaming but everyone does it right?

So, today as usual
I was surfing the internet, watching some videos like this one


cereal? well, i eat nasi lemak for breakfast.so, no comment.

and reading some interesting news for today when i came across this.

I thought it was just a lame April Fool's pranks
But I was curious enough to read some more
Weirdly, it is a true story.

It's in June 30, 1999 when Ricky McCormick,41, was found dead in St. Louis, Missouri and the killer hasn't been caught. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found two encrypted note in the victim's pants. But, shockingly until now, their code breakers couldn't find a way to solve the code.

The statement from FBI
"Despite extensive work by our Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit (CRRU), as well as help from the American Cryptogram Association, the meanings of those two coded notes remain a mystery to this day, and Ricky McCormick’s murderer has yet to face justice."

It is believed that the notes which contains more than 30 lines were written up to three days before his death.
So, if you are good enough in solving codes or have seen this kind of code somewhere, contact the FBI.

FBI Laboratory 
Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit 
2501 Investigation Parkway 
Quantico, VA 22135 
Attn: Ricky McCormick Case

This is the image of the notes, but if you want to see a clearer one. Click here



They even give you a tips on steps in solving a code:

Breaking any code involves 
four basic steps:
1. determining the language used; 
2. determining the system used; 
3. reconstructing the key; and 
4. reconstructing the plaintext.
Consider this cipher: Nffu nf bu uif qbsl bu oppo.
Now apply the four steps:

1. Determining the language allows you to compare the cipher text to the suspected language. Our cryptanalysts usually start with English.

2. Determining the system: Is this cipher using rearranged words, replaced words, or perhaps letter substitution? In this case, it’s letter substitution.

3. Reconstructing the key: This step answers the question of how the code maker changed the letters. In our example, every character shifted one letter to the right in the alphabet. 

4. Reconstructing the plaintext: By applying the key from the previous step, you now have a solution: Meet me at the park at noon.


So try it. Who knows you can be a hero :)

And lastly, due to high responses on this case. FBI has establish a page for the public to share their opinion.
You can read more here


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