GCHQ summer special for budding code breakers

While they are soaking up the sun this summer, Britain's brightest sparks will be able to solve a new brain teaser courtesy of GCHQ.

In the wake of unprecedented public demand for a new GCHQ cryptanalytic challenge, a newly-devised puzzle goes live on its website (www.gchq.gov.uk) today. Previous GCHQ brain teasers have tested cryptography aficionados around the world and the latest challenge has been designed to put them through the wringer once more. This time around, the challenge will focus on identifying six written works with a bearing on cryptography or intelligence, based on encoded extracts.

A GCHQ spokesman said: "This is the fourth in a series of GCHQ challenges which started in 2000. We have had a tremendous response to previous challenges and have been fortunate enough to attract some very talented recruits through this route. I am sure that this puzzle will be just as stimulating as the others. To make things a little easier, we will be posting a few clues on 2 August to help as many people as possible solve the challenge before the answer is published on the website on 15 September."

Later in the Autumn, GCHQ will be introducing a radically different challenge which will appeal not only to budding cryptanalysts but also to a wider range of talented individuals. The spokesman continued: "We don't really want to say too much about the Autumn challenge at this stage but we're sure that the new format will enhance rather than detract from the fun. In the meantime, we hope that all code breakers out there will enjoy this summer teaser."

GCHQ is on the lookout for talent in a variety of disciplines ranging from IT, communications, electronics engineering, physics, mathematics, languages and information science to intelligence analysis, purchasing and fast-track management training. Details of recruitment drives are available on the web site.

22 June 2004

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