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Cracking Crypto To Get Into College

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the we-have-another-task-for-you dept.

Kallahar writes "New Scientist is running a story about a Canadian university who had students break an encrypted message in order to get into college. A good idea to grab a good student, but here in 'Free' America these kids would have been thrown in jail for violating the DMCA ..."

11 of 373 comments (clear)

  1. Ummmm by tswinzig · · Score: 3, Funny

    See, these people write in with links to articles, and they write a summary of the article and usually throw in their opinion. Those parts are italicized. Then an editor approves the story and sometimes they make comments themselves.

    And sometimes they don't make comments. Like this time.

    So, I think you owe timothy an apology.

    --

    "And like that ... he's gone."
  2. Clarify by 1g$man · · Score: 2, Funny

    Do you mean "free as in beer" or "free as in speech?"

  3. Re:Find my secret message by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Your secret message is "IMS THE ISI"
    Take the first letter from every 2nd word.
    I'm so smart.

  4. Re:Doesn't make you a good student by cscx · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since I know scripting languages, am I an elite hacker?

    Since I can install linux, am I a sys admin?

    Isn't that the general consensus around here?

  5. Man, this is easy by VVrath · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm about middle of my course of 400 CompScis, and it took me all of five minutes to 'crack' the code, and solve the puzzle. Any kid who's done GCSE Computation (aged 14-16) should be able to work it out in less than half an hour.

    Are degree courses that easy to get on to in Canada? I had to get three A levels at grade C or above (and my Uni's not particularly prestigous)!

  6. I can't believe no one has posted this... by macsuibhne · · Score: 2, Funny

    Was it "f u cn rd ths, u cn gt a gd jb n cmptr prgrmmng."?

    Enquiring minds &c.
    Tony.

    --
    -- "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" -- Juvenal
  7. makes you wonder by joenobody · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does this strike anyone else as a great way to get someone else to finish up the work on your thesis for you?

    --

  8. Re:Doesn't make you a good student by Sparr0 · · Score: 2, Funny
    And for everyone who didnt bother to read the article:
    One hundred other students who also managed to decode and figure out the problem were offered a place on the computer science course at the university.
  9. DMCA.. YEAH! by ShaniaTwain · · Score: 3, Funny

    D.. M.. C.. A..

    Don't Mess with Company Assets
    Decieving Many Consumer Assholes
    Devious Money Consumes All
    Diabolical Medling Corporate Attorneys
    Etc.. etc..

    EVERYBODY NOW.. It fun to violate the D.M.C.A..
    D.M.C.A.

    --
    Starsucks
  10. Re:the details by smnolde · · Score: 3, Funny

    This kind of contest reminds me of the move "A Christmas Story" when the young boy gets his decoder ring and is finaly able to decode Secret Annie's message.

    The message? DONT FORGET TO DRINK YOUR OVALTINE

  11. Re:the details by liquidsin · · Score: 3, Funny

    Trivial??? It looks a hell of a lot more sophisticated than what Adobe uses to "protect" their Ebooks!

    --
    do not read this line twice.