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200-Year-Old Cipher Finally Cracked

Posted by timothy on from the castle-aaaaaaaagh dept.

Attila Dimedici writes "A code expert just cracked a code used by a friend of Thomas Jefferson in a letter written to Jefferson some 200 years ago. This code is fairly easy to crack using a computer, but extremely difficult without one. I think it would have been much harder if the author had not included an indication as to what code algorithm he used in the letter accompanying the coded message."

2 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. tl;dr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The message says:

    "In Congress, July Fourth, one thousand seven hundred and seventy six. A declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. When in the course of human events..."

  2. just cracked?? by macxcool · · Score: 5, Informative

    A code expert just cracked a code

    The article says "After unlocking its hidden message in 2007". This is hardly 'just'. The solution was more recently published though. Interesting article.