The August 2015 AMA
In August 2015 /u/w95 held an "ask me anything" on r/Solving_A858 and answered every question in a code. How the code works, the two code tables, and every question with its answer.
On 25 and 26 August 2015 the account /u/w95 answered 153 questions on r/Solving_A858. Every answer was written in a code: a string of hexadecimal that only made sense with a code table, and the table had been posted to r/A858DE45F56D9BC9 three days earlier. The community found the scheme within half an hour. Halfway through, w95 swapped the table for a new one, the digits of pi. A day later w95 replaced every answer with zeros.
The zeros keep the length of each answer, and in this code the length of an answer follows from its text. That makes it possible to check every decode the community posted, letter count by letter count, even though the ciphertext itself is gone.
153 replies: 133 under Key #1 and 20 under Key #2. 183 of their 189 answers have a decode that fits the length, and 149 replies are decoded in full.Timeline
| UTC | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2015-08-22 02:47 | 3hxe8v (title 201508212247) is posted to r/A858DE45F56D9BC9. It is the first code table, with the AMA's date, time and place written into it. |
| 2015-08-22 04:27 | namedbynumbers decodes the post: hex three times over, giving a table of 21 rows by 40 characters. |
| 2015-08-22 13:31 | ZtriS notes that the first row and the first column are indexes. |
| 2015-08-25 21:01 | The AMA thread 3idri6 opens on r/Solving_A858. Its title is 250d04030a140e071a10190d, which is "AMA" in the code. |
| 2015-08-25 21:04 | w95's first reply. |
| 2015-08-25 21:34 | fragglet posts the first decodes. VectorAlpha spotted that every byte of the replies is below 40, the table's width. |
| 2015-08-25 23:39 | fragglet explains the scheme and publishes a decoder on the subreddit wiki. |
| 2015-08-26 06:18 | w95: "We offer them pi to be quiet." From the next reply on, the answers use a second table, made of the digits of pi, and fragglet's decoder stops working. namedbynumbers and bluelite work this out. |
| 2015-08-26 13:13 | w95's last reply. |
| 2015-08-26 ~19:40 | w95 overwrites all 153 replies with the digit 0, keeping each reply's length and layout. |
Of the 153 replies, 133 use the first table (Key #1) and 20 use the second (Key #2).
The two code tables
Both tables are 21 rows by 40 characters. Row 0 is a column index, 0123456789 four times over, and column 0 is a row
index: 1 to 9, 0, 1 to 9, 0.
Key #1 is the post 3hxe8v. Its body decodes from hexadecimal three times over into the
table. Most of it is digits typed by hand on the number row, with 37 dashes, and the announcement is typed into it: the
date and time 2015-08-25 21:00:00 UTC, /u/w95, AMA and /r/solving_a858. The words and the dashes are nulls: of the 654 cells
looked up in the surviving ciphertext, none lands on one of them.
Key #2 is the first 780 decimals of pi, 39 to a row after the row index. That is what "We offer them pi to be quiet" meant: it was the reply that announced the new table. The table here is computed, and it matches the copy on the Solving_A858 wiki exactly.
0123456789012345678901234567890123456789 185920938680123841298375-130486071293752 212376092851-02374-60934861230-501760763 3136596-309597852703567-38762-82-047-1-1 43824952015-08-25221:00:006UTC3372775783 5175-174-5712-517-2957012935-1239517025- 602135879172459104-5134-5719759150715--1 71028765376938750198475913476-0379138754 81293875109346701934875601984750913467-0 914876-12376194235701-9571-239571-049687 0126357860394576510923456031948756109452 1142906450682730956120851349876501965410 2124867903476t501934687019293484/u/w9511 3918347604750847631978640591347609183650 41498376029354761-9083475609134761983473 5-50709283709143-6817049561-049619346871 6814376913467AMA2408601394670-5061046501 7193476502467029345091846-01989740193467 862958762-05398761349085710-943865-09813 912340867109367334/r/solving_a8581239473 0394760938759027469510704988894857190462
3hxe8v.0123456789012345678901234567890123456789 1141592653589793238462643383279502884197 2169399375105820974944592307816406286208 3998628034825342117067982148086513282306 4647093844609550582231725359408128481117 5450284102701938521105559644622948954930 6381964428810975665933446128475648233786 7783165271201909145648566923460348610454 8326648213393607260249141273724587006606 9315588174881520920962829254091715364367 0892590360011330530548820466521384146951 1941511609433057270365759591953092186117 2381932611793105118548074462379962749567 3351885752724891227938183011949129833673 4362440656643086021394946395224737190702 5179860943702770539217176293176752384674 6818467669405132000568127145263560827785 7771342757789609173637178721468440901224 8953430146549585371050792279689258923542 9019956112129021960864034418159813629774 0771309960518707211349999998372978049951
How the code works
To encode an answer, w95:
- wrote it in plain ASCII;
- replaced each character with its decimal character code, written out with no separators.
Yis 89,eis 101 andsis 115, so "Yes" becomes89101115. Codes below 100 take two digits and the others take three. A character with a code of 200 or more can't be written at all; - for each digit, picked any cell of the table that holds that digit, the index row and column included, and wrote the cell as two hex bytes: the column, then the row;
- joined the results. Each digit becomes four hex characters.
Because the cell is picked freely, the same digit is written in many different ways. That defeats counting letters, which is how a simple substitution code is usually broken.
To decode:
- split the reply into groups of four hex characters, and read each as a column (the first byte) and a row (the second byte);
- look up the digit in that cell;
- read the digits from the left: if the next digit is
1, take three digits, otherwise take two. Each group is one character code.
The thread's title, worked through with Key #1:
hex 25 0d | 04 03 | 0a 14 | 0e 07 | 1a 10 | 19 0d
cell (37,13) (4,3) (10,20) (14,7) (26,16) (25,13)
digit 6 5 7 7 6 5
codes 65 77 65
text A M A
Checking the decodes
The ciphertext is gone, but the wipe kept the shape of each reply: the bullets, the A = and out of, and a run of
zeros where each answer was. A run of 4 × n zeros was an answer of n digits. The number of digits a text takes is
fixed (two per character below code 100, three for the rest), so a decode either fits the run or it doesn't.
The decodes come from the replies under each w95 comment, mostly fragglet's and bluelite's. A decode is shown below only when its digit count equals the run. For a long answer that is strong confirmation. Short ones, like "No" (5 digits), "Yes" (8) or ">1" (4), only show the decode is possible, because many strings have those lengths.
Some of the ciphertext does survive, in comments that quoted a reply before the wipe. All of it decodes under Key #1 with every cell a digit, except one short quote by bluelite, which hits a non-digit cell under Key #1 and reads ">1" under Key #2. Key #2 turns every other quote into noise.
| Comment | Quoted by | UTC | Digits | Reads as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
cufip72 | TotesMessenger | 2015-08-25 21:09 | 6 | AMA |
cufj8ut | _damien | 2015-08-25 21:24 | 6 | AMA |
cufjms3 | fragglet | 2015-08-25 21:34 | 86 | The purpose cannot be disclosed. |
cufjms3 | fragglet | 2015-08-25 21:34 | 42 | The A858 project. |
cufjms3 | fragglet | 2015-08-25 21:34 | 5 | No |
cufk715 | Loftus902 | 2015-08-25 21:49 | 5 | No |
cufledl | augenwiehimmel | 2015-08-25 22:22 | 165 | We find them humorous. A858 exists on Reddit, and only Reddit. |
cufn0mr | _damien | 2015-08-25 23:07 | 13 | Edit: |
cufn0mr | _damien | 2015-08-25 23:07 | 91 | Thank you everyone. I must go now. |
cufn32m | CableCoder | 2015-08-25 23:09 | 91 | Thank you everyone. I must go now. |
cufn95a | fragglet | 2015-08-25 23:14 | 6 | AMA |
cufnukc | augenwiehimmel | 2015-08-25 23:31 | 67 | Practicality and exposure |
cufpx1b | fragglet | 2015-08-26 00:31 | 6 | AMA |
cufr9gx | fragglet | 2015-08-26 01:09 | 6 | AMA |
cufrtu3 | fragglet | 2015-08-26 01:25 | 6 | AMA |
cufuf1k | TrollaBot | 2015-08-26 02:42 | 155 | Hola. Disfrute de una cerveza y de la calle de tacos para m?. |
cufuf1k | TrollaBot | 2015-08-26 02:42 | 200 | Knowledge of general cryptography and methods will definitely be useful. |
cufuf1k | TrollaBot | 2015-08-26 02:42 | 61 | This remains unsolved. |
cug05ms | Whilst-dicking | 2015-08-26 06:18 | 6 | AMA |
cug0kgp | Whilst-dicking | 2015-08-26 06:41 | 6 | AMA |
cug2s2k | ZtriS | 2015-08-26 09:04 | 6 | AMA |
cugb5ol | _damien | 2015-08-26 15:04 | 6 | AMA |
cugc8kr | bluelite | 2015-08-26 15:31 | 4 | Key #1 gives ?#, with a cell that is not a digit. Key #2: >1 |
cugd9j5 | Sophira | 2015-08-26 15:56 | 409 | You know, I'm kinda surprised nobody's tried to *encrypt* questions to you in your code. Seems like it would make sense given the context of this AMA... |
cugd9j5 | Sophira | 2015-08-26 15:56 | 148 | (Although the AMA's over now, so I don't expect a reply.) |
Earlier write-ups of the AMA had two of the replies as lost. Both were decoded at the time by Kraftine: "Do you use automated programs to generate posts?" was answered "Yes", and "Was I correct that it had to do with Windows 95 anniversary?" was answered "No". Both fit their runs. "We think that full discovery is unlikely." ends with a period: the community's copy has none and is two digits short.
Three replies have no decode that fits: the three A = lines in answer to a request for a hint, the frequency-analysis
"YES" and "yes", and the favourite Unicode character. Their notes are with the replies below.
What was said
All the answers quoted here fit their runs.
Who. "I am not A858, but I am on the project." "A858 is a project with a team. I am a member of the team." "Polymorphism. A858 is both the project, and the team lead. I am not the team lead." "We are members of a larger organization." "The organization is older than A858." "I was recruited from within the organization." "We all connect to the same VPN." "Everyone on the team is old enough to drink alcohol in Ireland." "We're good guys."
Tools and method. "Most of our tools are written in C#", using "WPF". Asked whether automated programs generate the posts: "Yes". Asked whether the username is a key or an IV: "Sometimes." "AMA uses an encoding matrix. A858's methods cannot be disclosed." On the AMA code: "No bitwise operators. Just encoding and searching." Asked whether a character's encoding is changed to prevent frequency analysis: "Randomly." "Encoded posts are intended to be solved easily." "Other posts are not intended to be solved easily." "The encoding method here is similar to the encoding method in some other posts. Some posts are encrypted."
Difficulty and progress. "We expected more solutions." "Nobody is close." "Someone will figure it out." "More
quickly than expected, however." "Anyone can solve A858." "Knowledge of general cryptography and methods will definitely
be useful." "We think that full discovery is unlikely." "One post has been decrypted. Nobody noticed but us." On the
line under the birthday cake: "This remains unsolved." On the word "Maney" in 24sf75: "We
can't provide solutions. We don't make mistakes."
Wipes and phases. Why the subreddit is wiped: "Iterations". "Sometimes we are retooling. Other times we are working on other projects." Why the AMA: "To regenerate interest". "The audience was getting frustrated."
Purpose. "A858 will end when its purpose is discovered or disclosed." On the .NET file in
14oru6: "Every post has a purpose." "Maybe it will never end." "This is not the end."
Jokes, some with content. The favourite number is "43096", which is 0xA858 in decimal: the first four characters of the account name. The favourite film is "War Games". The favourite letter is "C". Asked for 100111 + 111001: "140 in octal" (it is 96 in decimal, 140 in octal). The meaning of life: "Increase entropy". Why /u/w95: "IIRC, it was short and available." Why Max Lerner: "It was topical". Why keep encoding after the code was broken: "There is value in dependence".
The operator later wrote that w95 was one of their accounts ("most of the /u/wNN handles were me"), and said nothing in the AMA about a key for the posts. The two tables decode the AMA and nothing else. See A858's messages.
Every question and answer
In posting order. The number links to the reply on Reddit. The question is the comment w95 replied to. In the answer, the decoded text is in bold; the rest is the reply's layout as the wipe left it. Hover over an answer to see its length in digits and who decoded it.
How can we be sure this is A858 themselves?
Assuming this is an AMA, thank you for doing this.
First of all. Does this mean closure? Is A858 going to end?
Second, how were the posts encoded? What was the pattern? Were the posts grouped by timezone and character length?
Finally, why start? And why end now?
How was the post you linked in your post encoded? What do the numbers mean?
Interesting. How long have you studied cryptography? Have you invented your own method, or are you using permutations of existing encryption routines?
Well, I guess maybe this indicates that the contents of this thread will be obfuscated / encrypted as well. It'll probably take more time to figure out what's being posted here. But I'll ask some questions anyway since the message indicated this was going to be an AMA.
What is /r/A858DE45F56D9BC9?
Who runs it?
Are we wasting our time trying to decrypt it?
Hello, a858. Nice to see you
So is this the AMA?
Would you rather fight 100 duck sized horses or 1 horse sized duck?
So we meet again.
Do you uses automated programs to generate posts?
Was I correct that it had to do with Windows 95 anniversary?
Thanks, one more for you. Is the username A858DE45F56D9BC9 a key or initialization vector used in decrypting the posts?
Thanks.
What has been your opinion of /r/Solving_A858 and seeing people trying to decode the messages that have been posted?
How is the process automated?
What languages do you use?
Is this an academic work? How far into cryptography you felt the need to dig into to make this?
Have any strong opinions on the French Revolution?
Not sure this will work but might as well give this a shot.
Could we please get a small hint on how to decrypt your replies in this thread?
Each answer is 2 digits, one character with a code from 10 to 99. Most likely "A = A" three times, each with a different cell for the same digit, to show the homophonic code. It can't be checked without the cells.
Why did you change the format of your messages in 2011?
Did the purpose of the messages change?
Can you give us frequency analysis clues and do:
Post yes.
Reply to that and type no
Reply to that and type no again
"yes" (121 101 115) is 9 digits and fits the second line. The first line is 5 digits, so it is not "YES", which would be 6.
Several months back there were additional subreddits and users linked to /r/A858DE45F56D9BC9 . What was the purpose of those and why did you stop using them?
How come you're posting on a different username? Why not just post as /u/A858DE45F56D9BC9 ?
Keeping on with the previous question, how close have we been? Were we ever close of decrypting any group or pattern of posts? Have we ever stumbled upon the solution and ignored it?
Nice touch by encrypting the AMA. Makes us consider what to ask much better.
Is the decryption method for this AMA easier than the rest of the posts?
Can we assume the announcement post has a hint into decoding this?
This account is over 1 year old. Did you seed the account and wait for the right moment? Or did you mean to make this before? If so, what stopped you?
Are there more accounts like this one?
What happened to your other subs?
Are any of the guesses on the theories page correct?
[deleted]
A bare bullet with nothing after it. The question it answered is deleted.
Why did you decide to make your posts to reddit?
Why did you decide to make this AMA after all of this time of being silent about the subreddit and account?
Seeing as this is an AMA, would you prefer the color red or the color blue?
How can I translate the messages to understand?
Are you doing this AMA alone or are we talking to the team you are a part of?
What is the nature of the posts on the a858 subreddit? What type of things do you have encrypted there?
I greatly respect what you've done. This has been a fun journey.
Now for my question: Are you upset we never made it to the end? Was this purely for fun? What did you get out of it? If you were to do this all again, would you do it differently?
I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Cheers!
Boxers or briefs?
What is your favorite kind of ice cream?
Hello A858!
How much time do you dedicate to A858? Is it just a fun side-project that you spend a few minutes tinkering on everyday or is it linked to something perhaps more important?
Are you a member of solving_a858 undercover?
What do you think of all the "copycat" subreddits that post similar stuff to what A858 posts?
Are you periodically altering the encoding of a single character to prevent accurate frequency analysis? If so, how often?
Dang, I wish I could read that.
On a scale from 1-10. How hard would you say deciphering your current cipher is, judging by what you've seen on this subreddit ;)
Could you say "Hello World" ?
Why did you start this? what motivated you?
What kept you going during the down times, specially when a flood of new users came from AskReddit threads?
Why are you doing this AMA?
Do you have another account that commented or posted on this subreddit as a regular poster?
Why did your sub or subs go to private sometimes?
What was your reaction when that user gave you gold?
Do you believe that this subreddit will be able to successfully decrypt this AMA?
Are the posts based on a one time pad encryption method? What is the source material if so?
What is your favorite color?
A858, what are your interests?
Are you performing bitwise operations on single characters in a specific pattern to create your encryption technique?
592 users here now. What is your message to them in 3 words?
What's your favorite Unicode character?
fragglet: "Can't decode this." A character code of 200 or more can't be written in this code, which may be the joke.
Do you actively monitor attempts to solve your code and if so do you intentionally obfuscate in order to stay ahead of people who are getting close?
Why did you mention Max Lerner?
Does anyone in your real life know that you are A858? If so what do they think of it?
"We expected more solutions."
Yes or No question if that's alright with you, Pineapple on Pizza?
What is your favorite number?
I'm not sure it has been asked so here we go: could you tell us how data is encrypted on your sub?
I'm amazed you're actually coming forward with all this.
So if you're going to do an AMA and really, really answer it all, how about this:
Why have you done this?
How can we decrypt all your posts? What specific algorithm or cipher or whatever do we have to use, and how are they encoded?
If you had to choose between eating out a prostitute after a night of work, or sucking a horse dick, which would you choose?
Are you left handed? Do you like eggs? How many cups are in your house?
Is there significance in the username "/u/w95"?
Based on our current progress, how long do you think it will take us to solve your code?
If we don't solve it for a long time will you eventually give up?
If you give up will you show how it was encrypted or leave it as a mystery?
Dogs or cats, which do you prefer?
Another question: Was your answer written in letters then encoded?
Can you point us to that post?
From what post A858 link karma comes?
"Someone will figure it out."
(heh)
Ok quick questions. * Are you god * Can you help me with algebra homework plz... * What came first the chicken or the egg?
Do you like the idea of being thought of as "the stone henge of reddit"?
651 users here now. How do you feel about this in 3 words?
Was the decryption method posted here?
Are you paid well?
What is your favorite color?
Does that mean it's a project by multiple people? How many are in on it?
What is the answer to this binary sum 100111+111001?
You said you were not a858. How does he feel about you doing this AMA?
Did that person discover the purpose of the project
Previously A858 posted: ASCII art drawings, tables of prime numbers, bits of Apple II source code (documented on the wiki), etc. Were you toying with us? Why?
I'll post a question that probably no regular would pose: Why should we care about A858? What kind of benefit would one get from decrypting your messages (if feasible), other than the fun one may get if solving it is seen as a game?
What is your relationship to the a858 person?
Are you a team? how many people?
Also, do you believe in aliens? or god?
Does that reply still exist?
You said you were paid and part of a team.
Without revealing the purpose of this, can we assume there is an organization or corporation (governmental or not) behind this?
Who is the "we" you keep referring to?
Does this mean that you guys contacted the person? Seeing as you know the gender and location of the person that encrypted your post.
Why do you wipe the subreddit or make it private from time to time?
"Encoded posts are intended to be solved easily."
And the other ones encrypted using stronger encryption?
How old are you? or rather: what is the average age of the team?
Would you mind stating for the record that I am not A858, since that's a common conspiracy theory?
Is /u/fragglet God?
Do you mean that A858 is a (different) person? I thought you said A858 is a team; if it's a team and you're a member of the team then A858 is here, right?
In what programming langage your encoder is written? Is it your favourite langage? If no, what is it?
"Polymorphism. A858 is both the project, and the team lead. I am not the team lead."
Can you disclose where you are located or what nationality you are?
On many occasions people have attempted to guess the purpose of A858, have any of those guesses come close to the real purpose of your project?
Are those iterations meant to mark a different encryption method?
Should we group posts as if they were a single one?
Are the timezone patterns? Do these patterns represent a different kind of encryption?
Why not reply in english now that fragglet was able to decode the AMA?
Don't know if I'm too late. But
What is your favorite/preferred computer system?
How many of you are there? Just a rough estimate is okay.
What question would you have the most desire to be asked?
Whats your favorite letter in the alphabet?
To be clear - the A858 on Voat and the A858 on Twitter are not official, right?
a) do you want your audience to solve the posts? b) what do you think about being listed in all the "creepy internet stuff" links? c) this isn't some kind of, like, giant rick roll, right?
Why do an AMA if there are so many questions that cannot be answered?
/u/w95 - are you ISIL or part of any kind of terrorist organization?
> 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
Why only on reddit? It's a popular site, no doubt - but why did you address this userbase?
Hi! I'm no cryptographer, but I've found this whole thing very interesting, and regularly check in on things. I would just like you guys to know that you probably have a ton more people like me silently observing, and anxiously waiting for breakthroughs and revelations. An audience, if you will.
Only three questions.
1) Do you all have "regular" jobs that pay your bills? 2) Are any/all of you university educated? 3) What is the highest IQ among your group? (I realize intelligence quotient tests aren't the best judge of intelligence.)
What was the .net file posted?
What is the meaning to life?
Often there are long pauses where there are no A858 posts. What do you do all day when there are no posts to write? Is A858 your only job?
Is your team primarily from the same country or are you scattered across the globe?
What food do you love eating the most? What timezone do you live in? What most do you want to do before you die? Im really glad you are doing this w. Its really cool. You are awsome.
You've mentioned that 'the project' will continue until its prupose is 'discovered.' What venues do you consider viable for disclosing the purpose of the project? For instance, does it only count as being 'discovered' if someone posts the true meaning behind all this on this subreddit? Or are people meant to submit guesses/info elsewhere?
Just for fun, now. Your own opinion, Unix or Windows? Even though you guys use C#.
Is A858 a project leaded by same people since beggining or the team is changing over time?
Do you read it " Ay eight five eight' or 'eightfate'?
Is the A858 team its own independent company or does it have a parent company?
Why thank you. I'll try my luck for a follow-up: What is the second question you wish people would ask you?
Who took the decision to do an AMA? who decided who was going to run it?
Can the purpose of the project be divined without decoding the posts?
Is this AMA automated?
Have you been a member of this organization since its creation or were you invited into it?
Can I get a job with you?
Oh that's juicy. I had a theory that your group was government-related looking for new candidates. So how about this question:
Are you affiliated with any government organization?
How much of the team's time is spent on A858? Is it just a side project?
Hello! Just wondering, what languages do you speak? I hope you have a nice day!
- Do you personally enjoy working with the a858 team?
- Do you personally enjoy the a858 project?
- Are there frustrations on the inside or is the team always on one page?
- If you could go back in time, would you change anything about the a858 project?
- What's your favorite movie?
Did they reach out to you?
Are there any specific criteria to join the organization?
a858, i'm going to sleep. good night.
say goodnight to me back
Is this post related to the AMA?
Can a person without any knowledge of programming decode A858?
Was A858 the first project? If not, how long has this organization been around?
Are there puzzles within the puzzle posts? For example, in the birthday cake puzzle, there is an additional line of text
p x e g h o p w w l e m m c h e l. Is that another puzzle to be solved? Or a hint about the project?
Do they need to know the basics of cryptography? Or is it something one can reason into the answer?
This is so fucking cool, I get goosebumps by reading this thread. u/w95 , hello from Mexico!
What's it like being on a team of something that has this big of a following? And now that the ama has been cracked, why continue encrypting it?
I believe you said you did not start this project.
How long has it been going on before you joined?
How many people were involved?
Of what nationality are you?
Damn, I suppose I'm late to the AMA. I'll try anyway.
If someone was found using the same encryption method as A858, how quickly could the team behind A858 decrypt it?
Could that someone else decrypt A858's messages similarly?
Would you be interested in adding that person to the team?
does p=np?
Stupid question...is this someone part of a team that created the code or a team of mods replying in code?
Are they WPF, WinForms, or command line based?
GggG? G? g?
Follow up then.
Are you an AI bot?
"A858 will end when the purpose is disclosed or discovered."
I believe creation is a form of destruction and destruction is a form of creation.
Will A858 be disclosed only to be replaced with a new creation?
What happens to team members who leave, and how can you be certain they won't "spill the beans" on whatever this project is about?
From here on the replies use Key #2.
Hello.
Thank you for this AMA.
How many people are on the A858 team? Are you a for-profit organization? How did you get recruited by A858? Is A858 a person? Is the purpose of A858 to be solved? Can you teach us how to solve it?
Really? I thought you were smart, A858.
You said earlier that the project was decoded since someone replied to you in your code. However, that person did not choose to disclose how it was decoded (I assume because it was more better to keep the secret), and has now deleted their comment.
However, you didn't end the project at that time. Does the project ending require the posting of the method, or were you not thinking about ending the project back at that time?
What about the project as a whole ? Do you think reddit will be able to decrypt it? If so how long do you think it'll take?
The community copy has no final period and is 111 digits. The run is 113, which the sentence with its period fills.
It's not Google, right? Please, not Google...
Did you publicly (online or via other methods) display that criteria or were they "following" you?
You are a sneaky person.
Could you give a less rough estimation of how many people work on the project?
Ok, well let's say some joe blow like myself, with zero knowledge of cryptography just happened to correctly guess your purpose, would you feel obligated to say i was correct? Or would i be ignored because i didn't actually decrypt any posts? Or would the game simply end? What happens when someone guesses right?
The desire for and encouragement of views speaks to sociology/psychology involvement to me as well. They want the purpose to be determined. They also state once the purpose is derived, it will be obvious to everyone.
W95 was recruited recently, and while a part of the team, and able to act apparently autonomously enough to post this AMA, he doesn't know the full detailed history of the project (doesn't know about the link karma post).
A thought: graduate school project of some sort?
Could you post a picture of yourself?
How long will your AMA go on for?
Where did you attend college? What was your major?
I've Been lurking a while, heading off to college next year and am a mixture of nervous and excited.
Can someone who has taken a college-level course in crypto, such as the Coursera MOOC, solve the posts?
may you give a hint to the other encryptions? No answers, we want it the hard way, also why does your team like encrypting? What type of script or program do you use to make the generated program? Why did you give us the answer to many of your posts so easily? You could have used a keyword encryption, maybe something like Handycipher or Playfair? Your team seems to be very educated in Cryptography, how many ciphers have your team made? What do you think of Cicada 3301? What encryption program (don't know code or how to use it) do you recommend, i use about 7. How do you think of our long journey into this decryption madness? Why does your team encrypt the message, is it so important that you don't want crying eyes to see it or did you do it for the sake of having the message be seen only by the people with the true passion to try to decrypt it, or something else? And my final question, is the encryption used in other posts a known encryption or a made-up one?
[deleted]
what are you not?
May I treat you like an AI? :>
Are you just waiting until someone gets frustrated enough to offer a sizeable "bounty" to decode the message, only then to offer the decryption and collect free monies?
W95,
In the current state of the world, as a person, I have an ever growing concern of the future - not just for myself but I am concerned for the future of my children.
I believe there are organisations out there to protect the public and also organisations which aim to destroy the social balance of day to day life. As stated in previous comments, you have said that you are part of a 'team'.
With your team being so secretive, you must doing something major with the internet and whatever the purpose or outcome is from the A858 project I believe it will have a massive impact on the current world, due to how long it's been going on and how much publicity is included, in which way I don't know, but this leads me on to my question.
Are you FOR the people, or AGAINST the people? After all the efforts everybody on this sub has contributed and the amount of days and weeks people have put into deciphering your posts - will these people be disregarded when one person discovers the meaning of A858?
There are a couple of things you should reply to, because I think you guys screwed up.
A858 sent a message to the mods in a puzzle post. This is the decrypted answer. Did you guys screw up with "Maney"? What did you mean to write?
On the second puzzle post, there are two interpretations available.
> New eyes among you, no answers among you, still weak among you, tool among you.
Or it is a continuation from the first puzzle post and should be read as:
> New eyes, no answers among you, still weak tool.
> New eyes, no answers, still weak, tool. Among you.
Which is the correct interpretation? They all have different implications.