11.25.2007
Open Sesame
You want to send a valuable manuscript to a friend securely. Enemies are everywhere. They seek to destroy you and covet your words. You have a box which can be fitted with multiple locks, and you have several locks and their corresponding keys. However, your friend does not have any keys to your locks, and if you send a key in an unlocked box, the key could be copied en route and the document purloined. How can you send the manuscript securely?
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15 comments:
Why don't you just sent the keys in an envelope prior to sending the locked box? Surely, the answer can't be that obvious.
It is not, I'm afraid, that obvious. These enemies (they are everywhere!) can surely steal and open an envelope. Keep thinking.
Even though I know it's not the answer you had in mind, the first thing that popped into my head was ass-muling the keys. (And by that I mean swallowing them and, well, waiting a while for them to become available once again).
that's the same thing I thought!
I still think my method would work. You just have to make sure the recipient gets the keys before mailing the manuscript. You also have to make sure the envelope containing the keys has not been opened enroute. You could put the keys in a box and seal it with wax.
I still think my method would work. You just have to make sure the recipient gets the keys before mailing the manuscript. You also have to make sure the envelope containing the keys has not been opened enroute. You could put the keys in a box and seal it with wax.
You guys might still be in the anal phase. That never even entered my mind ... Should I give a clue to the solution?
let me think it over for a while..
do not put the manuscript in the box.send it special delivery...
give us a clue, please...I can't sleep at night thinking about this.
Okay. A clue. Perhaps the secured box could be mailed more than once.
I'm not giving up on you guys. Another clue. You have your lock and key. But suppose your friend who will receive the manuscript also possesses a lock and key. How can you use this uncanny coincidence to send the box securely? Work with me ...
Fine. You're all out Christmas shopping or trimming your trees. Have fun. But so I don't keep checking to see if anyone has solved the puzzle or attempted to work through my clues or even cares anymore ... the much-anticipated solution:
Put the valuable manuscript into the box, secure it with your lock, and send the box to your crafty friend. Your friend should then attach one of his own locks and return it. The box now has two separate locks attached and secured. Okay, so far? When you receive the box again, remove your lock and send the box back. Now your friend, upon receiving the package, can unlock his own lock with his own key and retrieve the manuscript. No chance of any pilferers intercepting the goods.
I thought this was a rather good one. Maybe I'm wrong.
Very, very clever indeed....
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