The legacy (and fortune) of breaking the Beale Cipher

The Beale Cipher has remained unbroken (at least two of the three documents) for a very long time. Still, many professional cryptanalysts continue to try to break the cipher. The question is why people still try to break this ‘unbreakable’ cipher. On the surface it seems like a pointless task.

I believe that there are two primary motivations for breaking this ‘unbreakable’ cipher. The first attracts treasure seekers. The three parts of The Beale Cipher (only one having ever been broken) supposedly lead to the location of an incredible treasure. People that are motivated by greed may think that they will succeed where others have failed and become rich in the process.

The secondary motivation for taking on this kind of challenge is the legacy and game of it. The cryptanalyst that could break the Beale Cipher (even if it is a fraud and doesn’t lead to treasure) would earn the respect and admiration of their peers. It would be an accomplishment that would forever bear their name. On top of this it presents an interesting game. Some people love puzzles, the more difficult the better. The Beale Cipher is the perfect game to motivate these kinds of people to try their hand at the ‘unbreakable’ cipher.