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Enigma Mystery Cache

Hidden : 10/9/2009
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


(May 2023) The cache is restored about 15m from the ground zero, since the object which hid the cache, has been moved a little. The hint is "magnetic".

Enigma was used by the German military to encrypt its secret messages during World War II. Invented already at the end of World War I and used commercially for years it was greatly enhanced by the German military. The Kriegsmarine improved it even more. Most of the messages were broken but it's quite probable that if the rules of sending messages would have been thoroughly followed there would not have been enough information gathered by the Allies to do that. This in turn would have shifted the end of the war much further. Without the human factor involved and keeping only the technical side in mind the system was so good that some messages are still left encrypted even today. The number of possible configurations (3.1 x 10^25) is big enough for modern computers in a brute-force attack.

For a geocacher this is yet another hint-hiding method where one letter is replaced with another and vice versa. The goal is still the same - hide useful information from the eyes of someone unconcerned. The useful information in our case is the following:

BUOG TZXH XRGM THUC TEEC BEMT OLSY BEZD AUSF LLIM
IJIB WKEG YZIG AWLF YDML UNBX OHBZ AZUY APOM TSJI
QCXZ ATKZ JXKH QYCT XXDE HULJ FXQW XFXT VLFC IWAU
XZZL UGOG BHTP PLPI

Yes, you're right! This text is for you to decode. The reason for being in such a form is to make it hard for muggles to realize these are the cache-finding instructions. Well, how should you understand it then?

On the following sheet of paper you'll find all the necessary information for configuring the Enigma machine.

A wartime Enigma operator had to configure the machine based on similar data to decode the message sent from a ship captain. Part of the key was printed on special paper sheets, another part was delivered together with the message. The above picture is only a simplified version, the whole procedure would be too bothersome to follow. Our message itself does not contain any keys and the sheet above is enough for the configuration.

To save you from the trouble of seeking the real Enigma machine from an antique shop the very same machine which screen you're staring at right now comes to the rescue. On the related web pages, you'll find general information on the subject and as well a simulator that turns your computer into a World War II Enigma machine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine
http://users.telenet.be/d.rijmenants

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

zntarg

Decryption Key

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

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)