The cryptograms are divided into three
categories, which increase in difficulty. These
are:
1. Caesar Shift Cryptograms
2. General Substitution Cryptograms
3. Vigenère Cryptograms
Each cryptogram section starts with a brief
description of the cipher and hints as to how you can crack
the cryptograms. Moreover, you can visit the Black Chamber, which provides you with codebreaking
tools.
If you want to try something tougher, then you
could investigate the Cipher Challenge. The
competition is now over and the £10,000 prize has been won,
but the ciphertexts are still available on-line. The cryptograms include simple substitution, Enigma
and RSA.
Crypto
Competition
A new cryptogram will appear roughly
once a month. Send in a solution and one
of the correct decipherments drawn at random will win a copy
of The
Code Book and the Code
Book on CD-ROM. My newsletter will
carry news of each new competition cryptogram so
please sign
up to the newsletter if you would like
to be involved. I would particularly encourage schools to get
involved.
If you get hooked on solving cryptograms, then
here is a selection of other sites containing
cryptograms.
