I spy with my little eye: GCHQ chief reveals Christmas cards featuring ‘fiendish’ festive bauble-shaped brainteaser sent to agents across the world
- Director of GCHQ Jeremy Fleming sent the letters to colleagues across the world
- However the spy chief has also today made them public so everyone can have go
- On the front is circuit board in the shape of a bauble, with space for nine answers
- Nine letter sequences on inside of the card need to be fed in to reveal a message
The chief of GCHQ has released Christmas cards featuring a brainteaser which unlocks a secret message.
Jeremy Fleming, director of the spy agency, sent the letters to ‘colleagues and partners across the world’ and has made them public so everyone can have a go.
On the front is a circuit board pattern in the shape of a bauble, with space for nine answers.
There are nine letter sequences on the inside of the card which need to be fed into the decoration to reveal the message.
Jeremy Fleming, director of the spy agency, sent the letters to ‘colleagues and partners across the world’ and has made them public so everyone can have a go
On the front is a circuit board pattern in the shape of a bauble, with space for nine answers. There are nine letter sequences on the inside of the card which need to be fed into the decoration to revealed the message
Unveiling the cards, GCHQ said: ‘The challenge was put together by our staff, where problem solving is at the heart of our work to help protect the UK as it faces increasingly complex issues and threats to national security.
‘Through the design, creation and solving of puzzles, our teams are able to constantly develop their skills in thinking differently and discover new and inventive ways of approaching problems.’
A spokesman added: ‘Problem solving is at the heart of what we do. Taking on this Christmas cracker gives puzzlers an insight into the skills you need to be a GCHQ analyst.
‘Bring together a mix of minds by sharing it with the wise men and women in your household to find the solution.’ The answer will be released after Christmas.
It comes after Mr Fleming said cyber security teams are dealing with up to 60 incidents a month, mostly from Chinese hackers looking to take advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic
He warned of the threat after offering assurances intelligence sharing with the EU will not change with a No Deal Brexit. Pictured: GCHQ’s ‘Donut’ HQ in Cheltenham
It comes after Mr Fleming warned China is the ‘greatest strategic threat’ facing Britain, with GCHQ facing up to 60 serious incidents every month.
He warned of the threat after offering assurances intelligence sharing with the EU will not change with a No Deal Brexit.
He warned vaccine suppliers and hospitals were being targeted by hackers looking to capitalise on uncertainty brought about by the Covid and Britain leaving the EU.
The spy chief revealed the National Cyber Security Centre is dealing with around 60 serious incidents every month.
He said around 200 incidents over the last nine months have been related to coronavirus.
Mr Fleming told the Sun: ‘We have seen serious criminals and states trying to take advantage of this situation.
‘They have targeted the vaccine’s production and supply chains, government services and healthcare.’
He went on to warn members of the public were being tricked into handing over money in scams that posed as offering Covid-19 testing and treatment.