Running key from known reference texts + columnar transposition

Running key from 15+ known reference texts + columnar transposition sweeps

In plain English: 15+ known reference texts + columnar transposition sweeps — using a combined approach: scramble the letter order AND replace each letter. Every possible combination was tested (52.0 million configurations) — none produced a valid solution. This approach is ruled out within the tested scope.

NOISE Tier 2

How to read this record

Verdict – NOISE (no better than random guessing), INTERESTING (slightly above random, almost certainly coincidence), SIGNAL (statistically unusual, warrants investigation), or FULL MATCH (all 24 known letters correct).
Confidence Tier – Tier 1 = mathematical proof (permanent). Tier 2 = every possibility tested. Tier 3 = partially tested. Tier 4 = not yet tested.
Configs Tested – How many different key/parameter combinations were tried.
Best Score – How many of the 24 known plaintext letters the best attempt matched (out of 24).
Keystream Consistency (Bean) – Whether the key values at different positions are mathematically consistent with each other.
Scope Limitations – What this elimination does not rule out.

Configs Tested: 52,000,000
Best Score: 7 / 24 known letters matched · no better than random guessing (random guess would score: 0.0)
Keystream Consistency (Bean): FAIL
Checks whether the key values at different positions are mathematically consistent with each other.
Confidence: Tier 2: Exhaustive search under stated assumptions. Does not eliminate multi-layer variants.
Date Tested: 2026-02-20
Script: scripts/running_key/e_chart_01_running_key.py

Scope Limitations

This elimination does not rule out:

Only tests against 15+ specific known texts (Carter volumes, Gutenberg editions, K1-K3 plaintext). Does not eliminate running key from unknown source text.

Assumptions

Columnar transposition widths 5-15
Vigenere/Beaufort/VB variants
Known reference texts only

Reproduce

PYTHONPATH=src python3 -u scripts/running_key/e_chart_01_running_key.py

Requires the kryptos repo, Python 3.11+, PYTHONPATH=src.

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