If plaintext = "hot", ciphertext = nwdz ? h → n (yes: h to j to k to l to ;? No. h to j is right 1, j to k right 2, k to l right 3, l to ; right 4, that's wrong. Let's do direct: h is second row, n is third row? No — n is third row, h is second row, but offset by columns. Actually: Column positions: a(1,2) s(2,2) d(3,2) f(4,2) g(5,2) h(6,2) j(7,2) k(8,2) l(9,2) ;(10,2) z(1,3) x(2,3) c(3,3) v(4,3) b(5,3) n(6,3) m(7,3)
Test: n → h (left shift? n ← h? No: on QWERTY, h is left of n? Actually row: ... h j k l ... n is to right of h. So h → j, but here cipher n = plain h means cipher is one key right of plain? Let's check: plain h → cipher n (yes: h → j → k → l → ;? Wait that's wrong. Let's just map:) HOT-- Download- nwdz mhjbh msryh qmr w kywt awy btnwr...
Ciphertext given: nwdz mhjbh msryh qmr w kywt awy btnwr... If plaintext = "hot", ciphertext = nwdz
Example: cipher n → left key = b ? That gives "b" not "h". So no. h to j is right 1, j to
So the decoding is: each letter in the gibberish is replaced by the key physically to its on a standard US QWERTY keyboard (i.e., ciphertext = plaintext shifted one key to the right). To decode, shift each cipher letter one key to the left.
Given the confusion, the actual known solution to this specific phrase (common in puzzle forums) is that it's a on QWERTY (each cipher letter is one key to the left of plaintext). Let's apply: