Britain's cyber spy agency has appealed to youngsters to “discover their inner intelligence officer” by decoding a set of fiendish puzzles contained in their Christmas card in order to reveal the hidden message.
The quiz is aimed at children aged between 11 and 18 years old with an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), has seven puzzles, increasing in difficulty. The cyber agency hope more young people will take an interest in STEM subjects and consider future careers in the intelligence services.
Rather worryingly, GCHQ has encouraged Britain’s adults to “test their skills as well and see if they are as clever as an 11-year-old”. Why not give it a go yourself and see if you can discover the hidden message?
Sir Jeremy Fleming, the head honcho at GCHQ, said: “From Enigma to artificial intelligence, GCHQ's history is full of talented people tackling the country’s most complex challenges. If we’re to help keep the country safe, problem-solving skills and teamwork are absolutely crucial. That’s why this year’s Christmas puzzles are aimed at young people. I want to show young people that thinking differently is a gift. It is only with the right mix of minds that they can solve seemingly impossible problems, just like we do at GCHQ.”
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