Thanks

[Harry]

We get a lot of thank you emails during the competition and we are very grateful for them all. It is lovely to know that you are enjoying the competition as much as we are.

We thought it would be nice to show our sponsors how grateful we all are for their support. Without them the competition would not be possible, so if you would like to join us in giving them our deepest thanks, then please do post your comments here.

Harry

[AES_of_spades]

Not sure if Madness is a sponsor or what, but I’m really enjoying their book on cryptography – it’s clearly explained with just the right amount of challenges. So whoever you are, thank you!

[the_cryptographer_formerly_known_as_madness]

@AES_of_spades

Unfortunately, I cannot be a sponsor, because they do not let me have money where I am kept.
But I am glad you enjoy the book. Look at units 138 and 138 of version 2, to see why your
user name is so apropos this year.

For the avoidance of doubt, Madness is trying to guess what cipher we will set in Challenge 10 this year, and we are happy to let him try! Harry

[the_cryptographer_formerly_known_as_madness]

BTW, the real thanks go to Harry and the ELFs, especially the naughty one.

[AES_of_spades]

@the_cryptographer_formally_known_as_madness
on the second page of ur book there’s this scrumbled grid of letters:

RGHLXWERJFEBKJCTPQSRUATXSECVANAMVCINKFDITERSWSKYZGWPCFF
OFDOKNIXNQEKLERJOOHYHNRNLCRTFPGBLQSLRRIZGNPGNIRBCPEYFR
ZQIYEEFSGATAQUILXWVEKWKVKGLPXLSZSXDDKEPLTBYFVEOIBVONXCZ etc.
My question to you is, is this utter gibberish, or is it a code?!?!?!?!??!!?!
If it’s a code I shall have to try crack it and that will not be easy…

[the_cryptographer_formerly_known_as_madness]

@AES_of_spades,
Ha ha h a ha ha ha h a h a hahahahaha
I could be so cruel right now, but I will resist the temptation[1].
It is not a code, but there is something hidden in it.

BTW, that is version 1. Version 2 is somewhat improved.

[1] Lord, lead me not into temptation; I can find it myself.

[Robb27]

@TCFKAM (too long to type out!)
The Library only has v1 modified 2020-07-17, unless I have missed a link for a revised version elsewhere, which is possible. Perhaps Harry or the Elves could add the revised version.

@AES_of_Spades
The answer is both clearly on the page twice and in the overall document twice too 😉

[F6EXB_the_frenchy]

@Robb27
You can find the version 2 on github, searching with Google: madness cryptography

@AES_of_Spades
The title and author of the book are hidden inside the gibberish.

[Robb27]

@F6EXB_the_frenchy
Thanks! I should have thought to look there.

I have previously visited the “unofficial archive of the British National Cipher Challenge” on github to undertake the earlier challenges. If anyone is looking for some different cyphers, to hone their skills further or just for more (fun!) challenges, it’s a great resource.

[the_cryptographer_formerly_known_as_madness]

Thank, you Harry (possibly by proxy elf), for posting the linguistic challenges. They were fun, despite a few tricky points.

>Thank, you Harry (possibly by proxy elf), for posting the linguistic challenges.

If anyone finds they have time on their hands, and likes linguistic puzzles, there are a selection available at UK Linguistic Olympiad website. Fun problems:

https://www.uklo.org/fun-problems/

[Gen_ruikt]

Thanks to GCHQ for sponsoring also these ciphers are good so far hope to get properly stumped in the later weeks and also hoping to work for GCHQ in the future

Great ambition, but probs best not to tell anyone that! Harry

[CTRLandCMD]

Thank you GCHQ, Harry, Jodie, University of Southampton and all the tech elves working in the background to give us the best Cipher Challenges EVER!

Thank you, much appreciated! Harry

[Author]

Posts