GCHQ has launched its annual Christmas problem, with seven puzzles aimed to place the nation’s codebreaking abilities to the take a look at.
Devised by in-house puzzlers on the UK’s intelligence company, the problem is geared in the direction of testing a spread of abilities to unlock a festive message.
This yr, for the primary time, additional puzzles characteristic on the entrance of the cardboard. These have been designed by three schoolchildren, after greater than 500 kids entered the company’s competitors to search out the most effective budding spies.
Some challenges contain codebreaking, maths and evaluation, whereas others take a look at abilities together with lateral considering, ingenuity and perseverance – the identical mix of abilities GCHQ stated are used each day to maintain the nation secure.
Nonetheless “no one will find them easy”, the company’s chief puzzler – identified solely as Colin – stated.
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Pic: GCHQ
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Pic: GCHQ
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Pic: GCHQ
The Christmas card competitors tasked schoolchildren with answering the query: ‘What do you suppose GCHQ appears to be like like on Christmas Day?’ in addition to placing hidden codes and puzzles into their designs.
The profitable designs got here from Haoran, a yr 8 scholar from Wilson’s Faculty in London, Mariia, a yr 10 scholar on the Henry Beaufort Faculty in Winchester, and yr 12 scholar Amelie from South Wilts Grammar Faculty in Salisbury.
GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler, was a kind of tasked with selecting the winners. She stated she hopes the problem will “inspire the next generation to explore STEM subjects and consider the rewarding careers available in cybersecurity and intelligence”.
This yr’s Christmas playing cards – and challenges – can be found to obtain from GCHQ.gov.uk.
Solutions might be revealed by the intelligence company at 9pm on Wednesday 10 December.
