MZD Twitter/facebook codes?

[TBHalo]

I had seen those messages when the Q&A took place, but I assumed they were just gibberish, because they are placed in different messages. But you never know.
I know nothing about codes, so I really didn't even try...

[QuiteBaffled]

Considering the template post, the vague hints on each post, and its subject matter I am positive the message CAN be deciphered.
It is however, beyond my knowledge of applied(or even theoretical for that matter) cryptography. At least with out some kind of key to work from, though I feel that if I were just a bit more clever I could think of a way to use the template post in that role.

Its kind of bugging the crap out of me. Like a solution has already been provided but I cant see it.

[QuiteBaffled]

I'm still reading v4 but I am compelled to mention something.

Pg232 has encrypted messages in what looks like the same style. Those messages each have a key phrase. This seems like a huge hint(also is that reddit mention a challenge, or is that just me?). My first thought is the codes are one time pads. More reading will be required but like I said I was compelled.

[heartbreak]

I'm wondering if reddit wasn't expected to solve it. Would it be possible (most likely near impossible) without the passphrases? I think it was planned this way from the start. A way to place us inside the narrative.

[PrinceofBluh]

I'm still reading v4 but I am compelled to mention something.

Pg232 has encrypted messages in what looks like the same style. Those messages each have a key phrase. This seems like a huge hint(also is that reddit mention a challenge, or is that just me?). My first thought is the codes are one time pads. More reading will be required but like I said I was compelled.

not only is it the same style, it seems to be exactly the same message. which means we know two passphrases: "esse quam videri" and "sipaapuni" (pp 232 and 233 respectively)

[QuiteBaffled]

Hmm I think the message was posted in four parts with the fifth part seeming to provide the intended structure of the message. So perhaps each passcode will decipher one Fourth of the final message. As for the exact how, I think all the pieces to that question are in the Narcon's interjection in that same chapter. It looked like an outline of the format of the encrypted message.

[QuiteBaffled]

So after some googling I am positive the Narcon's have given us everything we need to go about figuring the message.
"Encryption:AES-256*Blocksize:16*Mode:CFB*key:SHA256(passphrase)*E ncoded message format:base64(IV+cipher text)

We have what seem to be four passphrases
VEM
esse quam videri
,sipaapuni
Let the outcome prove the side.

Also the messages in the book are the same with one exception. The final message from each set is different.

But even with all that and reading alot of Wikipedia, I'm still trying to decipher the message with no luck. First I don't know if Cas and Bobby's messages have the same key as MZD's posts,and if they do, which goes with which. Second I don't know what the Initialization Vector is, or even how to figure that out.
I am so lost.

[[email protected]]

Just tried this: Encryption:AES-256*Blocksize:16*Mode:CFB*key:SHA256(VEM)*Encoded message format:base64(IV+DiOOSN7FuA7IXRUBlGzC2q/eB8vNndyrIYLlsTGcfIjx9dN5FubhV3NwtJVIEkDYPJ7AU/443bfwbb9xzcFiAKOhqB5XQFM+l3zU9/ztPGmMDtK1oydWEQiwjMUmWBgYy8BatpWch7dutGRgAS0KKUxI D2G0N8sB0tGhZQHl)

And got this:

12 77 2b ca 9b 62 a2 70 04 4b 6e 7a 06 5a 1c 92 c8 b3 7b 5e 8c a1 d7 82 14 19 1e c9 21 c0 db 9e 95 10 c1 27 72 87 5e 76 67 ac b1 a8 1e 7e 8a e6 6a d6 da b1 ee b8 21 5f 83 88 e3 92 37 b1 6e 03 b2 17 45 40 65 1b 30 b6 ab f7 81 f2 f3 67 77 2a c8 60 b9 6c 4c 67 1f 22 3c 7d 74 de 45 b9 b8 55 dc dc 2d 25 52 04 90 36 0f 27 b0 14 ff 8e 37 6d fc 1b 6f dc 73 70 58 80 28 e8 6a 07 95 d0 14 cf a5 df 35 3d ff 3b 4f 1a 63 03 b4 ad 68 c9 d5 84 42 2c 23 31 49 96 06 06 32 f0 16 ad a5 67 21 ed db ad 19 18 00 4b 42 8a 53 12 03 d8 6d 0d f2 c0 74 b4 68 59 40 79

Epic fail :)

Oh, I tried here: http://www.dcode.fr/code-base-64

[Ellimist]

I wrote a Windows executable for people to use to decrypt the codes (I've never written a full Python code before this, there's no error handling, and it's very rudimentary... but it works):

https://github.com/TFNarcon27/VEMdecrypt

To try multiple passphrases at once, make a .txt file in the same directory as the DecryptVEM.exe and name it phraselist.txt with one passphrase per line.

Atropos
Midnight
Redwood

etc...

[Ellimist]

So it turns out the final ciphertext "FzQrKozegTl/0PdIb2vMTC7hn1jZRfAToH4qtgvN2voqnZlVBtUZ+T32eD56la mmEDRCg9/eM50OAzsrgEsqJ3ZGH7Kz/AF+wLvgds+B4i8Yf+y1VHYMyoLQu+2un10mDR/A7ms7NKTd6Q==" decrypts with the passphrase "place of bears" to:

Mohonk Mountain
1000 Mountain Rest Rd
New Paltz, NY 12561

41.768545, -74.155966

[jsimmsphx]

Not sure if this has been pointed out before but the Mohonk location appears as one of the GPS coordinates posted way back by MZD.

March 13th, 2013:

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=540414859336474&set=pb.108246949219936.-2207520000.1363295944&type=3&theater