Question Posed to DeepSeek: February 10, 2025
Based on the patterns found in the attachement, which are patterns found in the Zodiac Killer Z340 cipher. This cipher was deciphered in 2020, but these patterns appear and I wanted to know the probability of two such patterns occurring in a homophonic substitution cipher.
Attachment given to Deepseek seen below:
DeepSeek Answer to Probability of Patterns:
The Zodiac Killer’s Z340 cipher is a well-known example of a homophonic substitution cipher, which uses multiple symbols to represent single letters to obscure frequency analysis. The cipher was indeed deciphered in 2020, revealing a complex pattern of symbol-to-letter mappings.
To determine the probability of two such patterns occurring in a homophonic substitution cipher, we need to consider the following factors:
- Symbol Variety and Frequency: Homophonic ciphers use a larger set of symbols than the standard alphabet, with some symbols representing the same letter. The frequency of each symbol can mimic the frequency of letters in the plaintext language, making frequency analysis more challenging.
- Pattern Recognition: The patterns in the Z340 cipher are unique due to the specific arrangement and repetition of symbols. The probability of similar patterns occurring by chance in another cipher depends on the total number of possible symbol arrangements and the specific constraints of the cipher.
- Cipher Length and Complexity: Longer ciphers with more symbols increase the complexity and reduce the likelihood of random patterns matching those of the Z340 cipher.
- Randomness and Entropy: The entropy of the cipher (a measure of randomness) plays a crucial role. Higher entropy means more possible combinations, reducing the probability of specific patterns appearing by chance.
Given these factors, the probability of two such specific patterns occurring in different homophonic substitution ciphers by chance is extremely low. The Z340 cipher’s patterns are a result of deliberate design choices by the Zodiac Killer, and replicating such patterns randomly would be highly improbable.
In summary, while it’s theoretically possible for similar patterns to appear in different ciphers, the probability is negligible due to the complexity and specific design of homophonic substitution ciphers like the Z340.
