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The [Caesar Cipher](http:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_cipher) is a very simple and common encryption method which does not appear often in full-fledged CTFs but is a good basis for cryptography.

A Caesar Cipher is the shift of a string of letters a certain number of positions down the alphabet.
A Caesar Cipher is the shift of a string of letters a certain number of positions up or down the alphabet.

###Example

Let's say we want to encrypt the string `hello world` to give to our right-handed friend whose favorite number is 3. We will shift our string **left 3**.

Taking the first letter `h`, going 3 places up the alphabet(as it is a left shift) we reach the letter `e`, and so replace it in our string.
Taking the first letter `h` in our string and going 3 places up the alphabet(as it is a left shift) gives us the letter `e`. We then start our new, encrypted string with the letter.

Doing so for the whole string creates a jumbled mess of incomprehensible letters unless the reader has the propper decryption shift:
Doing so for the whole original string creates a jumbled mess of incomprehensible letters to anyone but the reader with the proper decryption shift:

Original: `hello world`
Final: `ebiil tloia`
**Original:** `hello world`

**Final:** `ebiil tloia`

To give this to our friend, we would send him the final string with the instructions **right 3**, and either by hand, with a website, or with a script, he would be able to extract our extremely important message.

##Detection

Caesar ciphers are usually presented as very low-point tasks, and can be easy to detect and check for. Strings containing only letters which seem incomprehensibly jumbled can be Caesar ciphers and should be checked.
Caesar ciphers are usually presented in very low-point tasks, if at all, and can be easy to detect and check for. Strings containing incomprehensibly jumbled letters can very likely be Caesar ciphers and should be checked.

##Solution

There are many approaches to cracking Caesar ciphers, but most commonly the best way to solve them is to write a script or run the string through a website (Options presented below) which will print out all the possible shifts of a string. At that point the most comprehensible and logical solution can be printed.
There are many approaches to cracking Caesar ciphers, but most commonly the best way to solve them is to write a script or run the string through a website (Options presented below) which will print out all the possible shifts of a string. At that point the most comprehensible and logical solution can be chosen.

##Sources/See More

[Wikipedia and Caesar Ciphers](http:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_cipher)

[Quick and Simple Decryption Tool](http:https://www.xarg.org/tools/caesar-cipher)

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