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The Hidden Artifact

Forensic steganography cryptanalysis involves uncovering hidden data in digital media by analyzing statistical anomalies, structural irregularities, or altered patterns introduced by steganographic methods. Techniques include LSB analysis, detecting data hidden in the least significant bits, and frequency-domain analysis for transform-based steganography. Challenges arise from encrypted payloads or sophisticated algorithms aiming for high imperceptibility. Forensic experts also employ histogram analysis, noise detection, and comparative media studies to ensure a robust investigative approach.

Task 1 Investigate this Case

It all started with a cryptic message on a dark web forum:

"The artifact holds the key."

A mysterious organization known as Shadow Cipher, shrouded in secrecy, has hidden critical intelligence within an unassuming JPEG file. The intelligence reportedly contains information capable of unraveling their global network. Your mission is clear: uncover their secrets and retrieve the truth.

But the plot thickens. The JPEG file is connected to Mohit Yadav, CEO of CRAW Security, a globally renowned cybersecurity institute. Mohit Yadav is celebrated for his groundbreaking innovations in cybersecurity, but the involvement of his company raises questions. Could this be a deliberate attempt to frame him, or is there a darker truth?

Your task is to infiltrate the digital labyrinth, uncover the hidden data, and retrieve the flag that will expose Shadow Cipher’s plans and reveal info.

Answer The Questions

You’ve always admired Mohit Yadav—or at least, you did, until you saw the kind of detail he puts into his work. “It’s all about precision,” he once said. That same precision is what you need now. Calculate the SHA2** hash of the decrypted flag and prove you’ve cracked the code.

What is the SHA256 hash of the artifact's decoded flag?

download file

Mohit always had a knack for hiding secrets in plain sight. “The simplest answer is often the correct one,” he told you once. Somewhere in the JPEG’s metadata or the patterns you’ve uncovered lies the XOR key—Shadow Cipher’s method for keeping their secrets safe. Can you
find it?

What is the key Shadow Cipher used to encrypt the hidden artifact?

You remember Mohit casually mentioning, “The best encryption isn’t always the most complicated—it’s the one no one expects.” Shadow Cipher seems to have taken that advice. Can you identify the encryption method they used to lock away their secrets?

What type of encryption secures the artifact’s hidden contents?

“A true hacker knows their tools,” Mohit once bragged during one of his institute’s flashy demonstrations. The tool that unlocked Shadow
Cipher’s secrets could be your favorite programming language—or perhaps the one Mohit mentioned offhandedly. Which one did you use?

Which programming language was instrumental in uncovering the artifact?

Mohit’s institute has a reputation for producing some of the sharpest minds in cybersecurity. “The real challenge,” he said once, “is interpreting the data once you’ve found it.” Now that you’ve cracked the artifact, what exactly is the decrypted value of the hidden hash.txt file?

What is the decrypted intelligence hidden in the artifact?

The Hidden Artifact

Task 1 Investigate this Case

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