8
$\begingroup$

As an agent for the CIA, you are forced to take the test to re-validate your membership. Surprisingly, they send you a cryptogram no test-taker has been able to solve. The answer is quite clear to the guys who made the cryptogram, but hard to those who didn't:

745692789632147412369 741253698521478963!
9874156147896398745632198745632174125369789632147418953741268 7412689874123514789638529874123574126!

The only hint they would ever give that it is two phrases ending in ! and each string of numbers represents a word. So what is the message anyways?

745692789632147412369 = ?
741253698521478963! = ?
9874156147896398745632198745632174125369789632147418953741268 = ?
7412689874123514789638529874123574126! = ?

$\endgroup$
2
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ You sure there's not some digits missing? I get the first phrase, and can make a partial fit/guess at the second based on the title, but it seems like it gets "corrupted" in the second phrase (especially word three). $\endgroup$
    – Alconja
    Commented Feb 8, 2016 at 4:29
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Like @Alconja, I think I get the answer, but the last letter of the third word seems to be missing, and the first two letters of that word aren't great. $\endgroup$
    – f''
    Commented Feb 8, 2016 at 4:55

1 Answer 1

6
$\begingroup$

Pretty sure the message is:

YOU WIN! PASSWORD DENIED!

Found by using the numbers given to:

trace out individual letter patterns on the number pad of a keyboard.

So specifically, letter by letter:

745692 = Y
78963214 = O (though arguably needs an extra 7 at the end)
7412369 = U
---
74125369 = W
852 = I
1478963 = N (looks like a lower case N)
---
9874156 = P (though probably should have an extra 9)
1478963 = A (though it actually looks the same as the "N" above)
987456321 = S
987456321 = S
74125369 = W
78963214 = O (needs another 7)
7418953 = R
741268 = D
---
741268 = D
98741235 = E (though you have to squint a bit)
1478963 = N (as above)
852 = I
98741235 = E
74126 = D (edit that fixed the end of "password" seems to have dropped the last "8" though to close the D)

...though I've got to admit, I don't really understand the purpose of the "Who am I?" in the title, or the actual meaning of the message, so it's possible there's more to it.

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ The title was to mislead the users. I guess it was a little too misleading but great job! $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 0:25

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.