Solving Puzzle Caches

1
Solving Puzzle Caches

• July 20th 2007
• By Tikibirds

2
Types of Unknown Caches

• Puzzles
• Pictures
• Symbols
• Hidden Text
• Ciphers
• Encrypted text
• Offset/Bonus
• 123, 140 ft.
• Use 1st letter A, 2nd LetterB
• Retrieve pieces from other caches

3
Where to Start?

• Goal Get Coordinates
• Lat/Lon
• UTM
• You already have
• Cache Title
• General Area (posted coords within 2mi)
• Posted Hints
• Knowledge of hider (check profile page and
  pictures)
• Google / Research

4
Puzzles Examples Overview

• 8 Puzzles Demonstrate Strategy Tips
• Colors used on each puzzle
• Key Strategy Tips
• Puzzle Text (on GC.com)
• Starting the puzzle
• Solving
• Closing In
• Final Answer

5
Puzzles
6
Diagnosis Death (TEAM NICKELBACKERS)

• It can be found at1) Subarachnoid hemorrhage
  Berry aneurysm.2) Malignant neoplasm of
  connected and other soft tissues other
  specified sites of connective and other soft
  tissues.3) Leishmaniasis Cutaneous, American4)
  Plague Bubonic

(ICD-9-Diagnosis Code)

Answer

430
1.710

0854
?.???
- Magic Numbers for area Posted Coords N 43
02.023 W 085 40.150 43 0x, 85 4x, 85 3x

• Break up puzzle into logical pieces
• 4 items
• 2 lat, 2 lon?
• Need digits or numerical text
• Know these words?
• Very specific wording

• Know about the Hider?
• Check Profile Page
• - occupation Medical Billing
• - Hint Try Google

7
8675309(DeRock the Psychic Cacher)

• gc ku.qzc0tl h0.0jv

42 5
8
9
2
7
-How to get numbers from letters? - using
telephone?
1- no letters 2-ABC 3-DEF 4-GHI 5-JKL 6-MNO 7-P
QRS 8-TUV 9-WXYZ 0 - no letters
085
0
4
0
?
?

• 2 items
• 1 lat, 1 lon
• Need digits
• 0 cannot be encoded?
• Magic 7 - Digits

Answer 4257.792 08540.0??
- Magic Numbers for area Posted Coords N 42
58.862 W 085 39.988 42 5x, 85 4x, 85 3x
8
Binary Graphics(Tikibirds)

• 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111100100101
  1110111100010000100111101111001100100100001010010
  0010000100000101001001100100100001010010001000010
  0000101001001100111101111010010001000010000010100
  100110000010000101001000100001000001010010011000
  0010000101001000100001000001010010011000001011110
  1111000100001000001011110011000000000000000000000
  0000000000000000011001111011110100100001011110111
  1011110011001001010000100100001010010100101001001
  100100101000010010000101001010010100100110011110
  1111011110000101111011110111100110010010000100001
  0000101001010010000100110010010000100001000010100
  1010010000100110011110111100001000010111101111011
  110011111111111111111111111111111111111111111

• 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111100100101
  1110111100010000100111101111001100100100001010010
  0010000100000101001001100100100001010010001000010
  0000101001001100111101111010010001000010000010100
  100110000010000101001000100001000001010010011000
  0010000101001000100001000001010010011000001011110
  1111000100001000001011110011000000000000000000000
  0000000000000000011001111011110100100001011110111
  1011110011001001010000100100001010010100101001001
  100100101000010010000101001010010100100110011110
  1111011110000101111011110111100110010010000100001
  0000101001010010000100110010010000100001000010100
  1010010000100110011110111100001000010111101111011
  110011111111111111111111111111111111111111111

• Binary Graphic - Lat/Lon

-Hints - The second part of the title is a
good hint. - Just look at it.
Graphics? - Picture?

• - Try Changing Font
• Try Changing Size
• Try Squinting

Answer 4301.170 8541.889
9
Gone Astray(DoRoAlRy)
4
2
4
8
9
9
3

• 325 941    813    760    406    812    215917   
  850    206    425    518    740    807608    763 
     957    319    732    536    469
• 573    731    347    283    876    419    801619 
     249    901    479    209    670    546420    8
  60    682    516    351    385    932

-F
-C
-F
-I
-I
-P
-T
-N
-F
-W
-W
-M
-O
-O
-W
-M
-N
-M
-?
-T
-N
8
5
5
0
?
?
?
-?
-?
-?
-?

• 2 lines
• 1 lat, 1 lon
• Need to convert digits
• Magic 42-60 - Spelling

• 3 digit codes Telephone Area Codes?
• - first letter of State? Or City?

This approach isnt working
- Magic 7/14 - Digits

• Title Gone Astray - Something Missing?

- Magic Numbers for area Posted Coords N
42 49.000 W 085 50.000 42 4x, 42 5x, 85 5x,
85 4x
Answer 4248.993 8550.???
10
Fargo North, Decoder (KBI)
The posted coordinates are BOGUS. Nothing is
hidden at that location.Whos Fargo? The puzzle
guy from that 1970s PBS childrens show!Even
Fargo North wouldve been able to decode this. No
Googling or college math required for the puzzle.
Everything you need for decoding is right here on
the page.The cache is in a relatively new
Forsyth County park. Terrain is mild to
moderately steep. No fees.Congratulations to
First Finder BTarver, who needed no hints!Long
pants recommended. Trailhead is 0.2 miles west
northwest of the cinderblock restroom
building.Email me if youd like verification.

Text - Numbers

- Magic Numbers for area Posted Coords N 34
07.940 W 084 06.863 34 0x, 84 0x

• Words/Layout are very important
• Letters/Syllables/Words/Sentences

2
2
3
3
1
2
1
14 2 Magic 7s?

• Hints

5 6 2 9 9 9 11 10 6 2 9 3 11 6
Puzzle Hint 1Have you noticed that every
modification, addition or comment KBI has made
since the day the cache was first posted has been
in the form of notes posted down in the logs
section? Hmmmm Puzzle Hint 3KBI never figured
out how to write a sentence with zero words in it.
3 4 0 8 4 0
3 4 0 7 7 7 9 8 4 0 7 1 ? ?
Answer 3407.779 8407.1??

• Puzzle is double enciphered
• Look for a Pattern

11
Ciphers
12
Ciphers

• Single Replacement/Substitution
• ROT 13
• Caesar
• Cracking
• Frequency analysis
• Word guessing
• Vigenere (poly-alphabetic)
• Cracking

13
Single Replacement Ciphers

• ROT 13
• Rotate by 13
• Caesar
• T example
• Random Replacement

(Standard Geocaching Hint Encryption)
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
A-N, F-S, L-Y N-A, S-F, Y-L
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
NOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLM
NOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLM
ABEGU
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
A-T, F-Y, L-E N-G, S-L, Y-R
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
TUVWXYZ
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS
TUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS
GHKMA
A-I, F-C, L-M N-B, S-W, Y-D
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
ILUGRCJESXKMVBYPHFWONQAZDT
BYFOE
14
Single Replacement Ciphers

• Frequency Analysis

Letter E occurs most frequently
15
Single Replacement Ciphers

• Word Guessing
• Length of Text
• (words/numbers/digits) 42-60 characters to spell
  out
• 16/17 characters for digits N425x.xxx
  W085.3x.xxx
• Guessing the Key
• Numbers as letters (ONE, TWO, THREE)
• Double letters ee in three or degrees
• Other common words
• Coords/North/West/Cache
• Start/Begin/Found/Park
• Four - Two Five/Three Zero
• Four/Forty/Fourty
• Five/Fifty
• Eight Five
• Eight/Eighty
• Partial Coords

16
CACHING 101(TEAM DESERT EAGLE)

ATK VDPG RXDRNGE MVG RTEG MVG RDRVG RDS JG LTKSE
DM
NGX IQCT EKQEATR ZIT EGRT ZIT EQEIT EQF WT YGXFR
QZ
E E E E E E E

T T
T
H H H H
V F
Y
O O N O N

A C AC C CAC CA
A
U U
R D D D
K B
FGKZI YGKZN ZVG RTUKTTL YOYZN ZVG HGOFZ TOUIZ
YOCT TOUIZ
E EE E E
E
T T T T T T T
T
H H
H
D GR S
R R G
G
I I I I
I
F F F F V
Y Y

NO O WO WO O N
P
VTLZ MTKG TOUIZN YOCT RTUKTTL YOYZN HGOFZ LTCTF
LOB MTKG
E E E E E EE E E
E
T T T T
H
D GR S
S R G S S
R
I I I I I
F V F F V
Y Y
W O O N N
O
Z
Z
P


X
NGX VOSS YOFR ZIT EQEIT OF ZIT KGGZL GY QF
XHKOUIZ ZKTT.
E E E
EE
T T T
T T
H H H
H
D R S R G
R
I I I I
F F
Y

O W N N OO O N
P
CAC A

U U
LL

• Ciphered Text

- Try ROT13
E
T
H
RS D G
I
V F
Y
NO W
Z
P
X
C A
U

K L B

- Do Frequency Analysis
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
11408913101626107622641412 5 2 0 8
00
- Word Guess
Magic Numbers for area Posted Coords N 42
53.732 W 085 50.926 42 5x, 85 5x, 85 4x
Answer 4252.858 8550.760
17
Youll Need to Work for this Smiley(jmerill70)
Cache Page

E
E E E
E E
T R
R T H T H
R R
R
O
O
Z O
Z
S N N
S
S
F F
J U U

P A C
P A
C
E E
E E E
E E E
E
T
H T
T
R
O O O

Z
O
S V N N
V S
S

F I I G
W
I G
D


P A C
E E
E E E
E E E
E
H T
T H R
T
R


O
Z O
V S
V
S V N V
F I
F I
F I


D
P A C
- Do Frequency Analysis

• 110 Characters 40-60
• Extra words

E
T H R

O
Z
S N
V

F I
G W

J U
D

P A C
1 2 7 9 5 6 9 8 5 6 4 4
4 2 2 4 6 2 1
4
Answer 3007.158 8535.750
- Word Guess
Magic Numbers for area Posted Coords N 30
07.238 W 085 35.950 30 0x, 85 3x
18
Vigenere Cipher

• Collection of Caesar ciphers
• Poly (many) Alphabets

Cipher Table for code word Cache
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
Z
1 2 3 4 5
C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A
B A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X
Y Z C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
Z A B H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C
D E F G E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
Z A B C D

P
O
T
A
L
H
O
W
Y
CACHE CACH
CACHE CACH

N
NORTH FOUR
19
Vigenere Cipher

• Off by just one letter

Cipher Table for code phrase ACache (cache
shifted down one space)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
Z
1 2 3 4 5 6
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
Z C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A B A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X
Y Z A B H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B
C D E F G E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X
Y Z A B C D
ACACH EACA

POTAL HOWY
PMTYE DOUY
Key Length is also important
20
Cracking a Vigenere Cipher

• Find a free Program
• Guess key phrases until something Hits

• http//sharkysoft.com/misc/vigenere/

21
SQUEEZE THIS(TEAM DESERT EAGLE)

• RVY UAHI PJZBV LQ SGL XPW UYJLIQ XXEB LAHX LOG
  RSJW AW KQLXL XPAK FODDKI ALZW TYI GHQ
  GCTKKQFCTGZ JWJ HQLOMMK GVZLA MSETK XKT WLOJGEU
  MMNLQ ICB TNMGA NAOL SAE ARS BXZB WKGJAC NANU
  ZMJSC HUM HHPRG FAYF SBUM LJRGL XPW UEIVHHRTAMK
  MOEG WUPZ GKPVY AOW AS BZW IGEPK GHUBSBUIE ADI
  BTKAP XQUT AAW XALY WMW JBCM LPV JVVQ ASXM LQYJT
  HPZM XALY

Sharkys Vigenere Cipher

• Ciphered Text

- Do Frequency Analysis
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
84213164345762344244435533

• Does not match single replacement

- Try Poly-Alphabetic (Vigenere) Cipher
- Use the Hint GET READY NOW SQUEEZE THIS
22
SQUEEZE THIS(TEAM DESERT EAGLE)
RVY UAHI PJZBV LQ SGL XPW UYJLIQ XXEB LAHX LOG
RSJW AW KQLXL XPAK FODDKI ALZW TYI GHQ
GCTKKQFCTGZ JWJ HQLOMMK GVZLA MSETK XKT
WLOJGEU MMNLQ ICB TNMGA NAOL SAE ARS BXZB
WKGJAC NANU ZMJSC HUM HHPRG FAYF SBUM LJRGL
XPW UEIVHHRTAMK MOEG WUPZ GKPVY AOW AS BZW
IGEPK GHUBSBUIE ADI BTKAP XQUT AAW XALY WMW
JBCM LPV JVVQ ASXM LQYJT HPZM XALY
- Word Guess along the edges
AAA AAAA AAGET RE ADY NOW SQUEEZ ETHI SAAA AAA
AAAG ET
AAA AAAA AAGET RE ADY NOW SQUEEZ ETHI SAAA AAA
AAAG ET
AAA AAAA AAGET RE ADY NIS SQUEEZ ETHI SAAA AAA
AAAG ET
THE NAME OFGET RE ADY NIS SQUEEZ ETHI STHE NAM
EOFG ET
THE NAME OFTHI SC ACH EIS SQUEEZ ETHI STHE NAM
EOFT HI
RVY UAHI PJTXC UM SDN KBA CIPHER TEXT TAHX LOG
RSJQ WD TMLUN KBES PUZZLE HERE TYI GHQ
GCTEGXOYTDB WIN PARKING NORTA MSETK XKT
QHVSCER OZZPY SIX POINT FIOL SAE ARS BRVI
FGGGCP ZEVE FIFTY ONE PHPRG FAYF SVQT UFRDN
KBA COORDINATES MOEG WUPZ GELCH WOT CF NDE
SMALL CONTABUIE ADI BTEWW GMUQ CNI BIVE SIX
FIVE TPV JVVQ ASXG HXHFT ERMY BIVE
RVY UAHI PJTXC UM SDN KHE CIPHER TEXT TAHX LOG
RSJQ WD TMLUN KHIS PUZZLE HERE TYI GHQ
GCTEGXOYTDB WOR PARKING NORTA MSETK XKT
QHVSCER OZFTY SIX POINT FIOL SAE ARS BRVI
FGGGCP FIVE FIFTY ONE PHPRG FAYF SVQT UFRDN
KHE COORDINATES MOEG WUPZ GELCH WOT CF THE
SMALL CONTABUIE ADI BTEWW GMUQ CNO FIVE SIX
FIVE TPV JVVQ ASXG HXHFT ERME FIVE
YOU HAVE BETXC UM SDN KHE CIPHER TEXT THAT YOU
NEEQ WD TMLUN KHIS PUZZLE HERE ARE THE
COOEGXOYTDB WOR PARKING NORTH FORTY TWO
QHVSCER OZFTY SIX POINT FIVE ONE ONE WRVI
FGGGCP FIVE FIFTY ONE POINT FOUR NVQT UFRDN
KHE COORDINATES THAT WILL BELCH WOT CF THE
SMALL CONTAINER ARE NOEWW GMUQ CNO FIVE SIX
FIVE TWO FIVE WESG HXHFT ERME FIVE
YOU HAVE BEGUN TO SEE THE CIPHER TEXT THAT YOU
NEED TO SOLVE THIS PUZZLE HERE ARE THE
COORDINATES FOR PARKING NORTH FORTY TWO
DEGREES FIFTY SIX POINT FIVE ONE ONE WEST
EIGHTY FIVE FIFTY ONE POINT FOUR NINE THREE
THE COORDINATES THAT WILL BRING YOU TO THE
SMALL CONTAINER ARE NORTH FOUR TWO FIVE SIX
FIVE TWO FIVE WEST EIGHT FIVE FIVE
YOU HAVE BETXC UM SDN KHE CIPHER TEXT THAT YOU
NEEQ WD TMLUN KHIS PUZZLE HERE ARE THE
COORDINATES WOR PARKING NORTH FORTY TWO
QHVSCER OZFTY SIX POINT FIVE ONE ONE WRVI
FGGGCP FIVE FIFTY ONE POINT FOUR NVQT UFRDN
KHE COORDINATES THAT WILL BELCH WOT CF THE
SMALL CONTAINER ARE NOEWW GMUQ CNO FIVE SIX
FIVE TWO FIVE WESG HXHFT ERME FIVE
- Force the answer
- Word Guess the Key too
READY NOWS QUEEZE THIS AAA AAA AAAGETREADY NOW
SQUEEZE
READY NOWS QUEEZE THIS AAA AAA AAAGETREADY NOW
SQUEEZE
READY NISS QUEEZE THIS AAA AAA AAAGETREADY NIS
SQUEEZE
READY NISS QUEEZE THIS THE NAM EOFGETREADY NIS
SQUEEZE
READY NISS QUEEZE THIS THE NAM EOFTHISCACH NIS
SQUEEZE
SCACH EISS QUEEZE THIS THE NAM EOFTHISCACH EIS
SQUEEZE
THISA AAAAA AAA GETREAD YNOWS QUE EZETH ISAA AAA
AAA AGET READYN
THISA AAAAA AAA GETREAD YNOWS QUE EZETH ISAA AAA
AAA AGET READYN
THISA AAAAA AAA GETREAD YNISS QUE EZETH ISAA AAA
AAA AGET READYN
THIST HENAM EOF GETREAD YNISS QUE EZETH ISTH ENA
MEO FGET READYN
THIST HENAM EOF THISCAC HEISS QUE EZETH ISTH ENA
MEO FTHI SCACHE
OWSQ UEEZE THI SAAAA AAAA AGET READY NOW
OWSQ UEEZE THI SAAAA AAAA AGET READY NOW
ISSQ UEEZE THI SAAAA AAAA AGET READY NIS
ISSQ UEEZE THI STHEN AMEO FGET READY NIS
ISSQ UEEZE THI STHEN AMEO FTHI SCACH EIS
SQUEEZETHIS AAAA AAAA AGETR EAD YN OWS QUEEZ
ETHISAAAA AAA AAGET
SQUEEZETHIS AAAA AAAA AGETR EAD YN OWS QUEEZ
ETHISAAAA AAA AAGET
SQUEEZETHIS AAAA AAAA AGETR EAD YN ISS QUEEZ
ETHISAAAA AAA AAGET
SQUEEZETHIS THEN AMEO FGETR EAD YN ISS QUEEZ
ETHISTHEN AME OFGET
SQUEEZETHIS THEN AMEO FTHIS CAC HE ISS QUEEZ
ETHISTHEN AME OFTHI
Answer 4256.525 855?.???
READ YNO WSQU EEZ ETHI SAA AAAA AAAG ETREA DYNO
WSQU
READ YNO WSQU EEZ ETHI SAA AAAA AAAG ETREA DYNO
WSQU
READ YNI SSQU EEZ ETHI SAA AAAA AAAG ETREA DYNI
SSQU
READ YNI SSQU EEZ ETHI STH ENAM EOFG ETREA DYNI
SSQU
SCAC HEI SSQU EEZ ETHI STH ENAM EOFT HISCA CHEI
SSQU
23
Summary

• Hints
• Break up puzzle into logical pieces
• Knowledge about the Hider
• Try Google/Other Search
• Title
• Magic Numbers
• (based on posted coords)
• /- 1 Minute
• Magic 7/14 Digits
• Magic 42-60 - Spelling
• This approach isnt working
• Keep it Simple
• Look for Patterns
• Multiple enciphered
• Verify
• Check the Map
• Check the Cache page
• Confirm the coords

• Pictures
• Try Changing Font
• Try Changing Size
• Try Squinting
• Ciphers
• Try ROT13
• Do Frequency Analysis
• Word Guess
• Find a free Program
• Find a friend who loves puzzles

24
Questions?