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FROM : Prof. Heart Laft ([email protected])
TO : Dr. Spy Acornic ([email protected])

SUBJECT : TRUTH

119101039114101 098101105110103 099104097115101100 098121 103111118101114110109101110116

attachment :
steghide
loc.jpg

There are 3 hidden messages.

This is my first puzzle. I appreciate any feedback to make it better. Hope you like it.

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3 Answers 3

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Ok so :

The 1st secret message is an ascii-encoded string that can be decoded to "we'rebeingchasedbygovernment". See this decoder

Then

The 2nd message is the text in the image decoded in base64. It is RVhQT1JUVEhJUOINQUdFVE9DQUVTQVIuVFhUVOIUSFBBU1NQSFJBUOVDQUVTQVI= which reads: EXPORTTHISIMAGETOCAESAR.TXTWITHPASSPHRASECAESAR. When decrypted with the UNIX tool steghide and the passphrase CAESAR we find the following hexadecimal sequence: 56 55 4e 49 52 53 42 48 41 51 4e 50 45 4e 50 58 42 41 47 55 52 53 56 45 5a 4e 5a 52 41 47 which translate to VUNIRSBHAQNPENPXBAGURSVEZNZRAG. Using the famous Caesar Cipher we found that it translates to: IHAVEFOUNDACRACKONTHEFIRMAMENT when applying a ROT13.

Finally:

-4f +a1 may correspond to hexadecimal modification, because they are both correct hexadecimal number. One should delete every 4f and replace them with a1 in the PNG. I did this, but it resulted in nothing (no additional data appears). Maybe is it just lat/long coordinates (the title of the image is loc.jpg) in hexadecimal. This gives us this position on google maps

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  • $\begingroup$ Almost there. 1 left. I think you're too complicated at last message. $\endgroup$
    – nathoenk
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 11:21
  • $\begingroup$ I updated my last answer, can you check ? $\endgroup$
    – Betcheg
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 12:00
  • $\begingroup$ Can you give me a feedback for better puzzle $\endgroup$
    – nathoenk
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 13:58
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    $\begingroup$ That was great, but I personally prefer when the are linked together, like answer 1 gives you a hint for answer 2 etc. e.g: your second hint could have add the word "at" at the end of the sentence so we know the next answer is probably a location. It gives the reader a sense of accomplishment and help for the context and clarity. $\endgroup$
    – Betcheg
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 14:48
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The second phrase is a base64 text which says:

EXPORTTHISIMAGETOCAESAR.TXTWITHPASSPHRASECAESAR

The two scientists names are anagrams:

Heart Laft = Flat Earth
Spy Acornic = conspiracy

Furthermore:

The names of the two images are as follow:
steghide.jpg - it implies it has to do with steganography
loc.jpg - possible some sort of coordinates (location)

Based on the findings of @betcheg about the second phrase and the assumption that we are talking indeed about:

Location

in the 2nd image. So using the second phrase:

I think the hidden 3rd message is more like a joke - if you look at the map location of the coordinates, they point just at the beginning of the Transantarctic mountains. The flat-earthers believe that the firmament could be reached if you cross Antarctica so on the map we can visually see that this firmament has started to crack, just like the message says.

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  • $\begingroup$ Sorry but Scientist name doesn't include in hidden messages. It's just for joke. Anyway, you have found it. +1 $\endgroup$
    – nathoenk
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 8:49
  • $\begingroup$ @nathoenk I guess as much, as I haven't yet figured what the second image hides. $\endgroup$
    – rhsquared
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 8:53
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    $\begingroup$ As note that you have not complete solved the first image yet. $\endgroup$
    – nathoenk
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 8:56
  • $\begingroup$ @nathoenk What do you think of my far-fetched logic about the 3rd message? $\endgroup$
    – rhsquared
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 13:09
  • $\begingroup$ I appreciate your answer. The timeline here says that betcheg answer first. But I love your logic. $\endgroup$
    – nathoenk
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 14:04
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first hidden message is:

we'rebeingchasedbygovernment
the numbers are just ASCII

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  • $\begingroup$ 2 left. Do you think it's too easy? I'll be more carefull next time. $\endgroup$
    – nathoenk
    Commented Apr 20, 2018 at 8:23

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