GCHQ’s Christmas Challenge: A Puzzle to Unlock the World of Spies
What does a spy agency give for Christmas? How about a riddle wrapped in an enigma inside a mystery.
GCHQ, Britain’s electronic and cyber-intelligence agency, on Wednesday published its annual Christmas Challenge – a seasonal greeting card that doubles as a set of fiendishly difficult puzzles designed to excite young minds about solving cyphers and unearthing clues.
The Challenge
The challenge is aimed at young people aged 11 to 18, who are encouraged to work in teams and use "lateral thinking, ingenuity, and perseverance" to crack the seven brainteasers set by GCHQ’s "in-house puzzlers." The card is sent by the head of GCHQ to other national security chiefs around the world and can be downloaded from the GCHQ website. A third of British secondary schools have already downloaded it.
The Agency’s Motive
The agency admits the festive fun has an ulterior motive. "The skills we want are quite diverse. We like analytical skills but also lateral thinking skills. And we like the idea with some of these puzzles that it involves a certain amount of perseverance to get to the answer," said Colin, GCHQ’s "chief puzzler."
A Career in Cybersecurity and Intelligence
GCHQ Director Anne Keast-Butler hopes the card will inspire young people to explore STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – "and to consider what a career in cybersecurity and intelligence might have to offer." The agency also aims to dispel some myths about intelligence work, fueled by super-agent James Bond and other fictional spies.
The Importance of Human Touch
Colin emphasized that making and solving puzzles still requires human ingenuity. "AI doesn’t have a good record either setting or solving puzzles, not of this sort," he said. "It is still the case that people are able to set interesting puzzles in a way that AI isn’t – thank goodness."
Conclusion
GCHQ’s Christmas Challenge is an exciting way to engage young minds in the world of puzzles and problem-solving, while also promoting an interest in cybersecurity and intelligence. By solving these challenging puzzles, young people can develop important skills such as analytical thinking, creativity, and perseverance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GCHQ’s Christmas Challenge?
The Christmas Challenge is an annual puzzle-solving competition designed for young people aged 11-18. - What is the purpose of the challenge?
The challenge aims to excite young minds about solving cyphers and unearthing clues, while also promoting an interest in cybersecurity and intelligence. - How can I participate in the challenge?
The challenge can be downloaded from the GCHQ website and is open to teams of young people aged 11-18. - What skills do I need to solve the puzzles?
You will need to use lateral thinking, ingenuity, and perseverance to crack the seven brainteasers set by GCHQ’s "in-house puzzlers."
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