Null mask crib preservation analysis (not a decryption test)

Measures whether crib positions are preserved under varying null masks. All masks trivially score 24/24 because crib positions are always kept. This is a structural analysis tool, not a cipher attack.

In plain English: Measures whether crib positions are preserved under varying null masks — using the hypothesis that some letters in the carved text are meaningless filler (nulls) inserted to disguise the real message. This approach is ruled out within the tested scope.

NOISE

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: N/A
Best Score: 0 / 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: Not classified.
Script: scripts/analysis/e_varying_null_resolution.py

Scope Limitations

This elimination does not rule out:

Score of 24/24 reflects crib preservation, not decryption success. Not comparable to cipher attack scores.

Reproduce

PYTHONPATH=src python3 -u scripts/analysis/e_varying_null_resolution.py

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

Found an error? Report on GitHub