Government intelligence agency launches online code-cracking puzzle

namealot · Dec 1, 2011

A new recruitment push has them teamed up with TMP (UK) Limited that if you crack a code it forwards you to GCHQ recruitment page I wonder if you just hack the site put up a doodle or two they’ll be just as keen to give you a job

http://canyoucrackit.co.uk/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-puzzle-recruit-cyber-savvy-spies-future.html

Blossom · Dec 1, 2011

Ah, GCHQ. Possibly the only government body that has the interview question 'Have you ever had sex in a public place?' as standard.

retired_member27 · Dec 1, 2011

Blossom said:
Ah, GCHQ. Possibly the only government body that has the interview question 'Have you ever had sex in a public place?' as standard.

Dam, that's me out at the first hurdle.

BREWSTERS · Dec 1, 2011

Blossom said:
Ah, GCHQ. Possibly the only government body that has the interview question 'Have you ever had sex in a public place?' as standard.

Is the answer they're looking for 'yes' or 'no'?

Edwin · Dec 1, 2011

If there's a way to force the server to serve ASP files without executing them, the answer might be embedded in the source that's generating the content website since the form is returned via "post" to "index.asp". Admittedly that's not "cracking" the code itself, but it's certainly lateral thinking.

Whibs · Dec 1, 2011

Alfresco - ohhh the good old days

WigWam · Dec 1, 2011

http://canyoucrackit.co.uk/15b436de1f9107f3778aad525e5d0b20.js

Edwin · Dec 1, 2011

http://www.canyoucrackit.co.uk/soyoudidit.asp

Google's "site:" command spilled the beans. A bit pathetic that they forgot to add a robots.txt file to keep the spiders out!

Aegean · Dec 1, 2011

I know, it's rediculous. I dropped an email to the BBC about this earlier today. Why bother with a code wall when you can just walk around it? Lets hope our enemies are dafter than we are.

Pred · Dec 1, 2011

lol

I think it's underpants on the head, pencils up the nose time

GreyWing · Dec 1, 2011

pred said:
lol

I think it's underpants on the head, pencils up the nose time

That's assuming it is the right page.... they are very sneaky you know.

BREWSTERS · Dec 1, 2011

pred said:
lol

I think it's underpants on the head, pencils up the nose time

'Wibble!'

Edwin · Dec 1, 2011

GreyWing said:
That's assuming it is the right page.... they are very sneaky you know.

It is, it takes you to a different website where you can apply for a position.

GreyWing · Dec 1, 2011

Edwin said:
It is, it takes you to a different website where you can apply for a position.

It looks like it is the right page, but none of us would ever know without breaking the code and seeing the page that comes up to those that have genuinely cracked it.

What makes me suspicious is that it takes you through to standard pages. There is nothing giving any credibility to anyone that has cracked the code. I would expect a page that said "Congratulations you have cracked the code, please leave your name so we can it to your application form and know that you are one of those that have beat the code".

So basically cracking the code is pointless.... you could just have gone to the website and applied anyway. They don't do things that are pointless from my knowledge of those guys.

That's what makes me suspicious of it... They may look at the application forms that come in and ask them if they cracked the code, some may have seen that link and try blagging it. Whilst those that see another page will know what is really there.

Edwin · Dec 1, 2011

Except that they have tried to hide it with a robots.txt file that just didn't "take" (download it and see) presumably because lots of successful people linked to it, and Google followed that link. The URL I mentioned wasn't visible at the beginning of the day but it was later on - and the way Google processes robots.txt (showing the URL only in search results but no content) means that it's showing up on the basis of incoming links only.

GreyWing · Dec 1, 2011

Edwin said:
Except that they have tried to hide it with a robots.txt file that just didn't "take" (download it and see) presumably because lots of successful people linked to it, and Google followed that link. The URL I mentioned wasn't visible at the beginning of the day but it was later on - and the way Google processes robots.txt (showing the URL only in search results but no content) means that it's showing up on the basis of incoming links only.

It appears they tried to hide "the robots.txt file that just didn't take". These so-called succesful people who you say linked to it, don't appear to have exposed the password though which is highly odd, nor do they explain how it was broken. Which is even more odd because they appear to have given away part of the solution (i.e the success page, but not all of it i.e the password or method)

GCHQ, MI5, MI6 are the dodge'ist bunch of people out in the UK forces. Everything with these lot is smoke and mirrors.

My bet is they are trying to smoke out the blaggers and short cut takers by putting up a false wall that people think they have cracked.... Anyone that applies to that application form could well be put straight in a bin and banned for life from applying.

I do know a couple of these people (one for sure, the other might just be taking the piss, lol too many shandies). GCHQ, MI5, MI6 in most occasions don't do application forms either, they find and recruit you.

scooter · Dec 2, 2011

I'm with GreyWing on this. I think they will be sitting there pissing themselves at all this "chatter".

They are masters of the web. If they are not, we are all doomed. Do you really think they would be this stupid? This is not just to smoke out the cheaters, it's to smoke out the cyber enemy. They announce it and it obviously goes global. They sit back and log all. Where they come from, how they get there, what they do.

Do you not think there will be an army of chinese, russian and all other countries swarming over "the code" . Or do you think it is just for the Uk's eyes only?

.

Pred · Dec 2, 2011

'Government Intelligence'..............

The ultimate oxymoron

wb · Dec 2, 2011

I doubt that's the congratulations page too, as that link isn't even needed to get to the application form. The exact same job/link can be found by simply searching for 'GCHQ Careers' and looking at the available vacancies.

GreyWing · Dec 2, 2011

pred said:
'Government Intelligence'..............

The ultimate oxymoron

Nope mate, there isn't much I'd say about Government and intelligence (you know what I am like against some Government workers especially local Government) but these are really really smart people. Unfortunately by the time their information get's to the public it's often been "interpreted" and "spun" by politician's. That's why the intelligence looks dodgy, but the intelligence is nearly always accurate before it gets sexed up.