The Most Challenging Contest Ever!

gagners · #1 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 10:43 AM

Here is it folks. The MOST CHALLENGING CT contest ever. Not only that, but the prize for the winner is substantial... So substantial, in fact, that part of the contest is figuring out the prize!

THE QUANDARY:

HDD XHF QRD EQH SBQ BMD
SVM GZD GNJ GZG ZMZ HVR
DRH SDS OBT QZR ZDO RGM
DSS LCN HHH DHN DDJ SOS
ULQ QCD HFD.

THE PRIZE:

TdASA OHBmA hRCEl MiDAM
rEETl PPFdI eDGOY OsHiN
EcIFC KFJSG hHKtU ERLOI
UIMoS RONNN NPOtt cMPGc

This has nothing to do with any thread I've ever been involved with here, so random guessing will do you no good.

The rules:
1- You may post your answers as many times as you wish. HOWEVER, there are no points for CLOSE. While I am not concerned with punctuation or things like that, the text must be exact. First EXACT post wins.
2- This contest is for CT members only. No outside help from the NSA or anything - Honor code applies (yeah, like I can enforce that...)
3- Your prize cannot be substituted, but I can't see anyone wanting to substitute it...

This contest will run until 28 May, 2007 - assuming these puzzles aren't solved. What is so special about this contest? Well, maybe b/c the prize could be valued easily around $600+... And it's something EVERYONE here wants...

One hint - what works for one, may not work for the other.

Begin.

Harlequin011 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 10:53 AM

Am I permitted to use work tools?

gagners · #3 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harlequin011

Am I permitted to use work tools?

Example?

TheMightyJim2k · #4 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 01:08 PM

I am assuming that you mean the "quandry" is a word or sentence that we have to decode from the text in the OP....

Harlequin011 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gagners

Example?

I'm a security engineer. I have lots of "tools". I don't want to tip my hand yet.

gagners · #6 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMightyJim2k

I am assuming that you mean the "quandry" is a word or sentence that we have to decode from the text in the OP....

quan‧da‧ry /ˈkwɒn

də

ri, -dri/–noun, plural -ries.

a state of perplexity or uncertainty, esp. as to what to do; dilemma.

???

gagners · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harlequin011

I'm a security engineer. I have lots of "tools". I don't want to tip my hand yet.

Use what you will. As long as it has nothing to do with searching other people's computers... That would be illegal.

Best of luck, though...

Harlequin011 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gagners

Use what you will. As long as it has nothing to do with searching other people's computers... That would be illegal.

Best of luck, though...

I don't crack computers without permission. I'd imagine cracking yours would be a whole ugly ball of felony and espianage charges I wouldn't want to mess with.

I'm coming up short over here though... I'll keep on it.

Wedge Rock · #9 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 02:04 PM

Do you expect it to take until May 07 to solve?

gagners · #10 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harlequin011

I don't crack computers without permission. I'd imagine cracking yours would be a whole ugly ball of felony and espianage charges I wouldn't want to mess with.

I'm coming up short over here though... I'll keep on it.

Staying out of prison is definately high on my priorities.