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In the first episode of a tv series Rubicon (exactly in 482 and 491 lines of an English subtitles) there is mentioned “Syllae algorithm” and “Malaysian cipher”. I could not find any details about these crypto technics.
Are they real? If so where could I find more info about them?
Using a search engine, you would quickly have discovered hints that they’re “home-brew riddles”.
For example:
Travers uncovers the same messages hidden inside the crossword puzzles of several major newspapers. He stumbles upon a series of 27 10-digit numbers, one set for each World Series the Yankees have won, that, by way of historic baseball dates, lead to a group of names. And when he finds a sheet of paper marked with 21 three-letter clusters, it's described as a "simple" code designed to direct the recipient to particular letters in a certain book.
source: “Conspiracy thriller 'Rubicon' challenges viewers”, reviewjournal.com, 1 August 2010
Will's observational gifts begin to decipher clues for him that may uncover a sinister and complex conspiracy.
source: “Will Travers”, rubicon.wikia.com, 1 August 2010
Are they real?
Obviously, the answer is “yes”… based on the fact that an amatuer/home-brew way exists with which viewers have been challenged. But it is my no means something you’ld expect to be known in the realms of professional cryptography.
So, they are “real” in the sense that they ”exist” as amateur/home-brew puzzles. Yet, there is a huge difference between amateur/home-brew puzzles or “deciphering riddles” and well-vetted, professional cryptography!
If so where could I find more info about them?
We don’t tend to handle amateur/home-brew ciphers at Crypto.SE, and we’re definitely not a valid replacement for your favorite search engine. But using the later, you should be able to find fan-sites and forums providing according information. One of many starting points would be the Rubicon Wiki.
Besides that, something tells me that watching the series might help too… but that might just be me.
