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| Britain |
| U.K's GCHQ code challenge cracked by internet chatterers |
| 2004-07-12 |
| The Government's intelligence communications headquarters, GCHQ, is being foiled by a silent enemy in its attempt to attract potential recruits. GCHQ, which employs more than 4,000 of Britain's brightest minds, set a fiendishly difficult cryptic challenge on its recruitment website, testing mathematical prowess and intelligence. However, the spooks have been beaten by the power of the internet. Anyone logging on to chat rooms specialising in code-breaking can find many of the answers, courtesy of millions who revel in crosswords and mind teasers. Despite the challenge being posted on the home page of GCHQ less than three weeks ago, the agency has received hundreds of answers. The experts who developed the crytography were so confident that it would be difficult they announced that a help page would be posted on Aug 2. Yesterday, GCHQ was trying to put on a brave face, saying: "We have had an excellent response." However, the experts who monitor internet chatter for the Government could not resist a giggle at their colleagues. Contestants are presented with a series of codes that represent extracts from written works. The challenge is to decipher the codes, identify the work, and find a six-letter word hidden in the answers. Some of the written works include a book from the Bible, a passage from a spy thriller that was turned into a film, and an extract from a Sherlock Holmes story. Current GCHQ vacancies are for linguists fluent in Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Macedonian, Nepalese, Persian, Russian, Turkish, Urdu and Punjabi. The organisation is recruiting information technology specialists for the twin roles of gathering signals intelligence and protecting government communication and information systems from hackers and maintaining the safety of power and water supplies and communications links. GCHQ reports to the Foreign Secretary and works closely with MI5 and MI6 but it also serves a wide range of other government departments. The role of the Cheltenham-based headquarters is endorsed by Tony Blair on its website. He says: "Secret intelligence gives the Government a vital edge in tackling some of the most difficult problems we face . . . intelligence forewarns us of threats to our national security; helps the Government promote international stability, provides support and protection to our forces; contributes to our economic health and strengthens our efforts against terrorrism and serious crime." |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |