Caesar Cipher Problem Python

[zarrexx]

Hi, I'am currently trying so solve a problem, and in it I have to write a program that determines the Caesar shift value, So far my program works although its only if I input my own shift value("key" in my program). But it cant determine what shift value a text file must have to decrypt it.

 

[DXMember]

ummm what?

you'd have construct an English dictionary that contains most used words and try all possible shifts on a part of the cyphered text until all of it matches to the English dictionary and then use the same value to decrypt the whole text

you don't determine the Ceaser shift value, you try to guess it by trail and error

[nickl]

Easier method to decipher a Cesar Cipher is to analyse the frequency of characters, and match them to the distribution of letters in normal text. This would work best if you have a large body of text to decipher.

Video on Khan Academy about the Cesar Cipher and how it is most easily cracked.