Kryptos &
The Cyrillic Projector
Elonka Dunin
Def Con 12
July 30 - August 1, 2004
Overview
– Introduction
– PhreakNIC Code & Kryptos
– Jim Sanborn's Sculptures
• Kryptos
• Antipodes
• The Cyrillic Projector
– Vigenère Tables
– Speculations
– Summary
Who am I?
 Elonka Dunin, General Manager of Online
Community at Simutronics Corp.
(www.play.net)
 In the online multiplayer games business for
almost 15 years
 Computer hobbyist since I was tall enough to
see over the top of a keypunch machine
 (unofficial) Cryptography speaker at Def Con
since 2001
Who am I?
 First to crack:
– PhreakNIC v3.0, PhreakNIC5 and PN6 Codes
– @LANta.con 2 Code
 September 11th - Organized the Simutronics Crisis
Center, uncovered the "Bloodwrath Hoax"
 Team leader for cracking the Cyrillic Projector
Cipher in September 2003
The PhreakNIC v3.0 Code
 Had been uncracked
since its release in
October 1999
 I cracked it in 10 days
 Won a free trip to
PhreakNIC v4.0 in
Nashville
– Free hotel, drinks, Tshirts, etc.
http://members.aol.com/nova1337/tutorial.htm
The CIA’s Kryptos Sculpture
Kryptos
 Commissioned in 1988
 Dedicated in 1990
 Code systems designed by Ed Scheidt,
Chairman of a "CIA Cryptographic Center"
 Sculptor: James Sanborn
CIA & Kryptos
 Difficult to examine the sculpture, because:
– Only people with "official business" can access
CIA
– The Agency is not easy to find (no street
address!)
CIA & Kryptos
 I did, however, obtain an invitation
Kryptos – Part 4 Ciphertext

?OBKR
UOXOGHULBSOLIFBBWFLRVQQPRNGKSSO
TWTQSJQSSEKZZWATJKLUDIAWINFBNYP
VTTMZFPKWGDKZXTJCDIGKUHUAUEKCAR
Kryptos
 Two panels are a vigenère table
 A keyword builds a cipher alphabet
 First keyword: Kryptos
 Solvers (of the first three parts):
– 1998: David Stein, CIA Analyst
– 1999: Jim Gillogly
– ???: Three unnamed NSA analysts
Jim Sanborn
 Born 1945 in Washington DC
 Studied Archaeology at Oxford
 Traveled extensively through
Asia
 Bachelor’s Degree in Social
Anthropology
 Master’s degree in Sculpture
 No (public) comprehensive list
of his works existed, until I
started making one in 2003
Kryptos Solver – David Stein
 Solved parts 1-3 in 1998
 Works at CIA
 Solved Kryptos on his own time, working on
evenings and weekends
 Used pencil and paper methods
 Married and a new father, not working on it
seriously anymore
Jim Gillogly
 Has solved several other historical codes, with
computer assistance
 Debunked Beale cipher
 Working on Voynich Manuscript
 Ex-Head of American Cryptogram Association
 Solved Kryptos (parts 1-3) in 1999, by running a
computer attack
The "Untitled Kryptos Piece"
 After creating the CIA version of Kryptos,
Sanborn made a smaller "untitled" version, which
was sold to a private collector
– One side has all the text of the CIA's Kryptos (with at
least two distinct differences)
– One side has encrypted Russian text
 Most of the Russian text is duplicated on the
Cyrillic Projector
The "Untitled Kryptos Piece"
The "Untitled Kryptos Piece" –
Antipodes
Sanborn’s Cyrillic Projector
Untitled Kryptos Piece –
Differences
 Russian Side:
– Cyrillic Projector only has about 75% of the Antipodes
text
– (but all of the Russian has now been solved)
Untitled Kryptos Piece –
Differences
 English Side:
– Sections are in a different order, and aligned differently.
– Untitled version contains two extra dots
Kryptos
Vigenère Table
Vigenère Table
 Keyword: Kryptos
 KRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZ
KRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZ
RYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZK
YPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKR
PTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRY
TOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYP
OSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPT
SABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTO
ABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOS
BCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSA
CDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSAB
Kryptos – Part 1
Kryptos – Part 1
 EMUFPHZLRF
 BETWEENSUB
KRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZ
PTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRY
ABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOS
LMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJ
IJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGH
MNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJL
PTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRY
SABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTO
EFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCD
SABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTO
TOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYP
Kryptos – Part 1
 EMUFPHZLRFAXYUSDJKZLDKRNSHGNFIVJ
YQTQUXQBQVYUVLLTREVJYQTMKYRDMFD
 Keywords: KRYPTOS and PALIMPSEST
 “Between subtle shading and the absence of
light lies the nuance of iqlusion.”
Kryptos – Part 2
Kryptos – Part 2 Ciphertext
 VFPJUDEEHZWETZYVGWHKKQETGFQJNCE
GGWHKK?DQMCPFQZDQMMIAGPFXHQRLG
TIMVMZJANQLVKQEDAGDVFRPJUNGEUNA
QZGZLECGYUXUEENJTBJLBQCRTBJDFHRR
YIZETKZEMVDUFKSJHKFWHKUWQLSZFTI
HHDDDUVH?DWKBFUFPWNTDFIYCUQZERE
EVLDKFEZMOQQJLTTUGSYQPFEUNLAVIDX
FLGGTEZ?FKZBSFDQVGOGIPUFXHHDRKF
FHQNTGPUAECNUVPDJMQCLQUMUNEDFQ
ELZZVRRGKFFVOEEXBDMVPNFQXEZLGRE
DNQFMPNZGLFLPMRJQYALMGNUVPDXVKP
DQUMEBEDMHDAFMJGZNUPLGEWJLLAETG
Kryptos – Part 2 Plaintext
 Keywords: KRYPTOS and ABSCISSA
 It was totally invisible. How's that
possible? They used the earth's
magnetic field. x The information was
gathered and transmitted undergruund to
an unknown location. x Does Langley
know about this? They should: it's
buried out there somewhere. x Who knows
the exact location? Only WW. This was
his last message: x 38 degrees 57
minutes 6.5 seconds North, 77 degrees 8
minutes 44 seconds West. ID by rows.
Kryptos Part 1 – A clue for part 2?
 Between subtle shading and the absence of
light lies the nuance of iqlusion.
–
–
–
–
Subtle Shading: SS
Absence: ABS
Light: C
ABS C I SS A
 ABSCISSA  ABS SS
"C I A" ?
Kryptos – Part 3
Kryptos – Part 3 Ciphertext
 ENDYAHROHNLSRHEOCPTEOIBIDYSHNAIA
CHTNREYULDSLLSLLNOHSNOSMRWXMNE
TPRNGATIHNRARPESLNNELEBLPIIACAE
WMTWNDITEENRAHCTENEUDRETNHAEOE
TFOLSEDTIWENHAEIOYTEYQHEENCTAYCR
EIFTBRSPAMHHEWENATAMATEGYEERLB
TEEFOASFIOTUETUAEOTOARMAEERTNRTI
BSEDDNIAAHTTMSTEWPIEROAGRIEWFEB
AECTDDHILCEIHSITEGOEAOSDDRYDLORIT
RKLMLEHAGTDHARDPNEOHMGFMFEUHE
ECDMRIPFEIMEHNLSSTTRTVDOHW
Kryptos Part 3 – Rows
 ENDYAHROHNLSRHEOCPTEOIBIDYSHNAIACHTNREYULDSLLSLL
NOHSNOSMRWXMNETPRNGATIHNRARPESLNNELEBLPIIACAEWMT
WNDITEENRAHCTENEUDRETNHAEOETFOLSEDTIWENHAEIOYTEY
QHEENCTAYCREIFTBRSPAMHHEWENATAMATEGYEERLBTEEFOAS
FIOTUETUAEOTOARMAEERTNRTIBSEDDNIAAHTTMSTEWPIEROA
GRIEWFEBAECTDDHILCEIHSITEGOEAOSDDRYDLORITRKLMLEH
AGTDHARDPNEOHMGFMFEUHEECDMRIPFEIMEHNLSSTTRTVDOHW?

S L O W L Y D E S P A R A T L Y
Kryptos – Part 3 Plaintext
 Slowly, desparatly slowly, the remains of passage
debris that encumbered the lower part of the
doorway was removed. With trembling hands I
made a tiny breach in the upper left-hand corner.
And then, widening the hole a little, I inserted the
candle and peered in. The hot air escaping from
the chamber caused the flame to flicker, but
presently details of the room within emerged from
the mist. x Can you see anything q?
Kryptos – Part 3 Explanation
 Paraphrased account from Howard Carter’s
diary, upon the opening of King Tut’s tomb
 November 26, 1922
 His answer to "Can you see anything?"
– "Yes, wonderful things." (or "Yes, it is
wonderful.")
Kryptos – Part 4 Ciphertext

?OBKR
UOXOGHULBSOLIFBBWFLRVQQPRNGKSSO
TWTQSJQSSEKZZWATJKLUDIAWINFBNYP
VTTMZFPKWGDKZXTJCDIGKUHUAUEKCAR
The Cyrillic Projector
The Cyrillic Projector – History
 Created in early 90s for gallery shows
 Installed at UNC-Charlotte in 1997
 Kryptos Group started studying it in 2003
The Cyrillic Projector
 Three Step Solution Process
– Transcription
– Decryption
– Translation
The Cyrillic Projector –
Transcription
 Pictures taken May 2003 by Randall Bollig
 Transcript created June 2003

ЛTФ E ЮTФЯ Й Я M П X Ц ФAЧ H Щ П B БГ Ж Ч C К Ь Г Г Л З ДЭ Й П
Ъ К X C Й PЭAФ H Ф П Щ B П E Ц PД ФAЩ ШTК C X C Ч Ы У X X E Ю
КУMЛEЧ ЛЫTOБH EЯЖЖИЬHЭЗ ЩЦ PЛ ЫБПHФOИИAБЬ
П И К Л E У P Ы C M Ъ Ш Л Л Б X M X Л Ж Ш PAЩ P Й Л П E O O Й Й B Ц
ИЪЛБXЦPЫЧCКAPCPBЯЭФКЮФPЮMOЯЗOЛOДЭШPЗУ
ДXMAЭXOЙГЙЮФMЩXXCBИИЗXAГЙЯЬПCИБPPШOM
КTCУЯГXУЬЛEУPЫCMЪШCППЯЯЦШУШAЦЧПИMШH
P Б Ч P Я Ы M И У PA Д ФA И Ю Й Ы Ц Я Л O H У Ф Ж O Ф Ш X Ф Ж C Б
BЪЧДЦCФБMДЭШPЗУДXУPБШTOКЩЪMXПOTOXOЩЧ
ЖAЦ Д Щ PAЮ Г O Й B P Б Г Ю Б З Г E Ж P Й Л П E O O Й Й B Ц H З П Г Ф
Ц ЗAИB Я ЮФЛЪЦ X C ЧЫ ШЬБEOM Щ ШЖTЭДЙ OTTФXП P
ПЛOДЭЩPЗУДXКПГФOЦБЩЪMMЭКЧEPЛMКЪЦЦЗЩЛ
Ф Ц Ч Ъ Щ К B H ФAE C Д ПTДФ П PЯ Й К Ю H X B Ц БЮ E И C Ч Я Ч Ц
X M ЖЛ C П PЧ УЛ Э Ш ЖЫ И И M E D U SA И H X E З Л Ч З PЗ Й К Л
ППEBЛ ЧCXЦЫ OЙBPБУДXCBЪГЖЧCКAPCPB ЯЭФPЩФ
ЯЦЩПЪЗЫTФOЙЙУCДTЮTBCБPXCПБЩЛШКУBЙЙГЗ
The Cyrillic Projector –
Anonymous Message
 In July 2003, I received an email via my
company's anonymous feedback form:
I have managed to solve the
cryptographic portion of the cipher.
It is, as advertised, not terribly
difficult…
P.S. I am doing this anonymously
because I have a sense of humor.
Anonymous Message
 Should an anonymous solver get credit?
– No.
 In most cases, credit goes not to the first person
who *does* something, but the first person who
can prove that they've done it, by supplying
enough information that the work can be
independently verified and duplicated.
 If it can't be duplicated, it's probably not real.
The Cyrillic Projector –
Decryption
 Elonka, while reading her weblogs, saw an interesting link on
September 19, 2003 . . .
 http://home.earthlink.net/~xxxxxx/CPSolution.htm
The Cyrillic Projector –
Decryption
 Decryption confirmed September 19, 2003

B Ы C O ЧAЙ Ъ И M И C К У C C T B O M B TAЙ H O Й PAЗ B E Д К E C П И
TAE T C Я C П O C O Б H O C T Ь PAЗ PAБ O TAT Ь И C T O Ч H И К К O T O
P Ы M T Ы Б У Д E Ш Ь B C E Ц E Л O PAH П O P Я ЖAT Ь C Я И К O H T P O
Л И P O BAT Ь П O Э T O C У TAЙ H O Й PAЗ B E Д Ы BAT E Л Ь H O Й C Л
У Ж Б Ы К O H T P O Л И P У E M Ы Й И C T O Ч H И К КAК П PAB И Л O П O
CTAЯ Л Я ET CAM У Ю HAД E Ж H У Э И H Ф O PMAЦ И Ю К O HT PO
Л И PУ E M Ы M C Ч И TAE T C Я К У П Л E H H Ы Й И Л И HAX O Д Я Щ И
Й C Я B Л Ю Б O ЙД PУ Г OЙ ЗAB ИTИM O CTИИ CTOЧ H ИК П OTP
AД И Ц И И Ц E Л Ь Э П P O Ф E C C И O HAЛAPAБ O TAЮ
The Cyrillic Projector –
Translation
 Example of the problem:
– thissentencemightbeeasxlyunderstondbblet
oanativeenglishspeekerbutsomeonenotfamil
iarwethenglishwouldhaveagreatdealoftroub
lereidingortranslatingitplusthefactthatt
hereisntanypuncuuationisntanyhelpeither
The Cyrillic Projector –
Translation
 Translation provided by Stanley Dunin, Anatoly K., and
Elonka Dunin on September 20th, 2003
 BЫCOЧAЙЪИM ИCКУCCTBOM B TAЙHOЙ PAЗBEДКE
CПИTAETCЯ CПOCOБHOCTЬ PAЗPAБOTATЬ ИCTOЧHИК
КOTOPЫM TЫ БУДEШЬ BCEЦEЛO PAHПOPЯЖATЬCЯ И
КOHTPOЛИPOBATЬ ПOЭTOCУ TAЙHOЙ
PAЗBEДЫBATEЛЬHOЙ CЛУЖБЫ КOHTPOЛИPУEMЫЙ
ИCTOЧHИК КAК ПPABИЛO ПOCTAЯЛЯET CAMУЮ
HAДEЖHУЭ ИHФOPMAЦИЮ КOHTPOЛИPУEMЫM
CЧИTAETCЯ КУПЛEHHЫЙ ИЛИ HAXOДЯЩИЙCЯ B ЛЮБOЙ
ДPУГOЙ ЗABИTИMOCTИ ИCTOЧHИК ПO TPAДИЦИИ ЦEЛЬЭ
ПPOФECCИOHAЛA . . .
The Cyrillic Projector –
Translation (Part 1)
–
The highest skill of the secret service is the ability to develop a
source, which you will handle and control completely so that the
source supplies, as a rule, the most reliable information. A
controllable source is a source that is considered bought or made
otherwise dependent by some means. Traditionally, the goal of the
secret service professional is to ensnare any potential-value source
of information with a psychological net, and pull tight this net at
the appropriate time. There are not too many possibilities for this,
but those secret agents who develop controllable sources of
information will get promotions and the respect of colleagues.
However, the methods and behavioral techniques that are needed
to attain this goal are radically contrary to the ethics and morality
of society in the field of interpersonal relations.
The Cyrillic Projector – Translation
(Part 2)
– … about the creation of Sakharov's new anti-Soviet
address to The West and its use by Americans for goals
inimical to the Soviet Union. In May, academician A. D.
Sakharov wrote a report for members of the Pugwash
Conference. This report contains sharp anti-Soviet
evaluations of the internal and foreign policy of the
CPSU and the Soviet Government, and it also contains
an accusation against the USSR about the
intensification of army, navy, missile arsenal, and air
force, and intervention in …
The Cyrillic Projector – Source
Document for Part 2
Cyrillic Projector Solutions (/.)
 Then Slashdot got ahold of the news . . .
 Alternate proposed solutions on Slashdot
– "Send more vodka!"
– "Keep information away from Moose and
Squirrel!"
Cyrillic Projector
Kryptos
Latitude & Longitude
 38 57 6.5 North, 77 8 44 West
Kryptos – The Bird's Eye View
Related Sanborn Artwork at
Langley
 Morse code: sos, shadow forces, lucid
memory, "t is your position" . . .
Related Sanborn Artwork at
Langley
 A dozen other pieces around the CIA
“campus”
 Compass
 Morse code: “digetal interpretatu” (pictures
courtesy of Jim Gillogly)
Kryptos Part 3 –
Different Methods
 KRYPTOS = 1473625
 ENDYAHROHNLSRHEOCPTEOIBIDYSHNAIACHTNREYULDSLLSLL
4
NOHSNOSMRWXMNETPRNGATIHNRARPESLNNELEBLPIIACAEWMT 3
WNDITEENRAHCTENEUDRETNHAEOETFOLSEDTIWENHAEIOYTEY 2
QHEENCTAYCREIFTBRSPAMHHEWENATAMATEGYEERLBTEEFOAS 1
FIOTUETUAEOTOARMAEERTNRTIBSEDDNIAAHTTMSTEWPIEROA 7
GRIEWFEBAECTDDHILCEIHSITEGOEAOSDDRYDLORITRKLMLEH 6
AGTDHARDPNEOHMGFMFEUHEECDMRIPFEIMEHNLSSTTRTVDOHW? 5
– KRYPTOS
– KOPRSTY = 1234567
– KRYPTOS = 1473625
 “192” formula: C = (192*P + 191) modulus 337
 Double-columnar transposition
Kryptos – Part 3 – Alignment
Part 3 – Alignment
 Sanborn: "This is important."
Other Kryptos Discoveries /
Speculations
 The missing "L"
 IBCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDE
JCDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEF
KDEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFG
LEFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGH
MFGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHI
NGHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJL
OHIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJL
PIJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLM
QJLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMN
RLMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQ
SMNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQU
TNQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUV
UQUVWXZKRYPTOSABCDEFGHIJLMNQUVW
Other Kryptos Discoveries /
Speculations
 Originally thought:
– Ciphertext: 867 chars, tableau: 864
 Add in missed "L"
– Ciphertext: 867 chars, tableau: 865
 Add in two reference spaces:
– Ciphertext: 867 chars, tableau: 867
Other Kryptos Speculations / Info
 Spelling errors "iqlusion" and
"undergruund":
– Sanborn said, "Those errors are deliberate. It's
not *what* they are that's so important though,
as their orientation or positioning."
Different Vigenère Systems
Thomas Jefferson Wheel Cipher
(M-94)
Wheel Cipher Images from Monticello/Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc
Kryptos – Part 4 Ciphertext

?OBKR
UOXOGHULBSOLIFBBWFLRVQQPRNGKSSO
TWTQSJQSSEKZZWATJKLUDIAWINFBNYP
VTTMZFPKWGDKZXTJCDIGKUHUAUEKCAR
 7-letter rows:

 Kryptos – 7 letters
?OBKRUO
XOGHULB
SOLIFBB
WFLRVQQ
PRNGKSS
OTWTQSJ
QSSEKZZ
WATJKLU
DIAWINF
BNYPVTT
MZFPKWG
DKZXTJC
DIGKUHU
AUEKCAR
Ed Scheidt
 CIA’s "Wizard of Codes"
 Currently working for TecSec
 Likes ties with hieroglyphic patterns
 Said the last part of Kryptos would probably
stand for 10 years before it was cracked.
 "I saved the best for last."
Other Kryptos Discoveries /
Speculations
 IM from "MolleeH"
 "The key to Kryptos is komitet"
 Komitet is the "K" in KGB
– Komitet Gosudarstvenoi Bezopasnosti
– Committee of State Security
 Molly Hale is the head of the CIA's Public Affairs
department
 "Key" not "keyword"
 7 letters in Komitet
Komitet
Hint or Hoax?
 "The key to Kryptos is komitet"
 Whoever sent the IM:
– Knew I was working on Kryptos
– (possibly) knew some CIA structure (Molly Hale)
– Knew some crypto terminology: "key" not "keyword"
– Knew some cold war history: "Komitet" is not
commonly known.
– Sent a *7-letter* key
– Knew how to cover their tracks
Sanborn's Other Sculptures
 Has over 100 pieces around the world
 Some are encrypted, or in other languages
– French, Latin, Russian, Iroquois, Spanish, Chinese,
Greek, Ethiopian, Creek, Algonquin
 Some have sections in binary
– Connecticut, Florida
– IRS Computing Center, West Virginia
 "Covert Operations Fragments"
 Other curiosities:
– Three sculptures that use quotes from Adam Smith
– Three sculptures that use engraved compasses
– One named "Hidden under the Three Events“
Zola Spy Restaurant, Washington DC
Kryptos in Pop Culture
Kryptos and the Da Vinci Code
Novel
Kryptos in Pop Culture
Image courtesy Patrick Foster, pf008@yahoo.com
Sanborn on NPR
 1999 Interview
Kryptos
Summary
 Kryptos has 4 sections of code
– 3 of the 4 have been solved
 Sanborn's "Untitled Kryptos Piece" has two sides
– The CIA side repeats the text of Kryptos over and over
– The KGB side was what we solved in September 2003
– Both sides have obvious spelling errors
• Unknown how many are accidental or deliberate
 Both Jim Sanborn and Ed Scheidt said Kryptos
was designed to be solved
 Elonka: "Is part 4 solvable?"
– Sanborn: "Yes. It ain't easy, but it's solvable."
Things we need help with
 Linguists to transcribe/translate
–
–
–
–
–
–
Iroquois
Creek
Algonquin
Abyssinian
Chinese
Greek
 3D modelers
To get more information
 http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/kryptos
 http://www.elonka.com/kryptos
 Sci.crypt newsgroup (search on “kryptos”)
 Subscribe by emailing:
– kryptos-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
 AIM: Elonka
 Google
Q&A
Famous Unsolved Codes
 1. Beale Ciphers
 2. Voynich Manuscript
 3. Dorabella Cipher
 4. Zodiac Killer Ciphers
 5. Kryptos