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FBI Issues Code Cracking Challenge

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the test-your-skillz dept.

coondoggie writes to tell us that the FBI has issued another cracking challenge for a new cipher on their site. Tens of thousands responded to a similar challenge last year. In addition to the challenge, the FBI is also offering a few primers on the subject. There are a number of sites offering cipher challenges, but it's funny to see the FBI encouraging such behavior.

11 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. First Post by Hadlock · · Score: 5, Funny

    Love the article:
     
     

    coondoggie writes to tell us that the FBI has issued another cracking challenge for a new cipher on their site. Tens of thousands responded to a similar challenge last year. In addition to the challenge the FBI is also offering a few primers on the subject. There are a number of sites offering cipher challenges, just funny to see the FBI encouraging...NO CARRIER

    Hillarious.

    --
    moox. for a new generation.
  2. Oh, the fun and prizes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The winner receives an all expense 1 way trip to the tropical island of Cuba!

    1. Re:Oh, the fun and prizes! by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Funny

      "You'll love our fun-filled resort on beautiful Guantanamo Bay!"

      Meh. The resort is okay, but I hear the service is torture!

      --
      My blog
  3. This will really piss of the Chinese by Alain+Williams · · Score: 5, Funny

    or whichever foreign government owns the code that the FBI has just recruited the bright kids on the Internet to crack :-)

  4. Harry you? by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Houdini was always searching for better, more clever ways to perform escape acts and illusions. After he would debut a new trick, others would immediately try to emulate the trick. The trick was on them, though, because Houdini would frequently expose their methods (because it was originally his) and prove himself to be the true master magician.

    No difference here. Just the FBI gauging the abilities of the community.

  5. Link to the 2008 challenge by root777 · · Score: 5, Informative

    The links in the article point to FBI challenges in 2007 and the kids challenge but do not point to the 2008 challenge.

    Here is the FBI Cryptanalysis challenge 2008 http://www.fbi.gov/page2/dec08/code_122908.html

    Other helpful links for reference
    2007 challenge: http://www.fbi.gov/page2/nov07/code112107.html
    Kids challenge: http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/jobs9.htm

    1. Re:Link to the 2008 challenge by enFi · · Score: 5, Informative

      Presuming that the text is all the information we need - maybe the got creative and did steganography, or a message hidden in the flash source.

      I agree with the characters; if newlines are relevant:

      VFWTDLCSWV. YD
      NSLMIJFWEJFD GSW SL
      NIJNQBLM FOBV EJFDVF
      DLNIGTFBSL. KBVBF
      YYY.AHB.MSK/NSCDC.OFZ
      FS EDF WV QLSY SA
      GSWI VWNNDVV.

  6. FBI's "Add yourself to suspect database contest by Jason+Quinn · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear citizens: Please inform us if you have the talents necessary to be suspects in criminal cyber-cracking cases. That is all. Love, The FBI

  7. Re:Fill in the blank by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, actually, I think it's supposed to be

    --
    My blog
  8. I cracked it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Be sure to drink your ovaltine"

    What the hell does that mean?

  9. Re:link to challenge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Wow. Cryptograms in the newspaper are harder than that.

    stupendous. we
    congratulate you on
    cracking this latest
    encryption. visit
    www.fbi.gov/coded.htm
    to let us know of
    your success.