<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>We describe the background of the Zodiac killer’s cipher, and present a strategy for how to attack the unsolved Z340 cipher. We present evidence that there is a high degree of non-randomness in the sequence of ciphertext symbols in this cipher, suggesting it has been constructed in a systematic way. Next, we use this information to design a tool for solving the Zodiac ciphers. Using this tool we are able to re-solve the known Z408 cipher.</p></abstract>

We describe the background of the Zodiac killer’s cipher, and present a strategy for how to attack the unsolved Z340 cipher. We present evidence that there is a high degree of non-randomness in the sequence of ciphertext symbols in this cipher, suggesting it has been constructed in a systematic way. Next, we use this information to design a tool for solving the Zodiac ciphers. Using this tool we are able to re-solve the known Z408 cipher.

The zodiac killer ciphers

Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, N–5020 Bergen, NORWAY

Department of Applied Informatics, Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Ilkoviˇcova 3, SK–812-19 Bratislava, SLOVAKIA

Tatra Mountains Mathematical Publications

{"article-title":"The zodiac killer ciphers"}

We describe the background of the Zodiac killer’s cipher, and present a strategy for how to attack the unsolved Z340 cipher. We present evidence that there is...

The zodiac killer ciphers

Published Online: Nov 12, 2012

Page range: 75 - 91

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10127-010-0007-8

Keywords
classical ciphers.

This content is open access.

The zodiac killer ciphers

Published Online: Nov 12, 2012

Page range: 75 - 91

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10127-010-0007-8

Keywordsclassical ciphers.

This content is open access.

Keywords
classical ciphers.