Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Pedestrian.tv
Pedestrian.tv
Technology
Kathleen Farmilo

In Peak Spy Kids Energy, A Tassie 14.Y.O Cracked An Aus Govt Agency’s Code Challenge In An Hour

In a genius move I can barely comprehend because, alas, I am not a woman in STEM, a 14-year-old Tassie kid managed to crack a code by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) in just over an hour. The ASD is the section of the Aus Government in charge of code breaking, dealing with cyber threats, foreign signals intelligence and the like. In celebration of its 75th birthday, the ASD released 50,000 limited edition 50 cent coins for sale last Thursday with a bunch of hidden code on them. Seems like a fitting birthday celebration TBF. You’d think a cybersecurity agency could get better graphics but who am I to judge. The 50 cent coin wasn’t just any coin though — is it ever? It contained four layers of encryption, with each code harder and harder to crack. Each code held lil messages about the Australian Signals Directorate. This teen managed to catch ’em all, like little cyber Pokemon. An adorable concept. The ASD’s director-general  confirmed the wee legend’s code-cracking at a Lowy Insitute think tank Q&A. “The coin was launched at 8.45am; we put up our web form and said, ‘Hey, if you think you’ve got the answers fill in the form’,” she said in a speech, . “And believe it or not, a boy, 14-year-old in Tasmania, was the first person in just over an hour to get all four layers right.” Just imagine the absolute ego boost of cracking that coin in an hour. That is truly the ultimate school yard show-and-tell. “We’re hoping to meet him soon… to recruit him,” Noble joked. Apparently though there’s actually a fifth, even harder level of code to crack on the coin. I wouldn’t even know how to begin cracking a code, so godspeed to all the incredibly brainy 14-year-olds. I just know Juni and Carmen Cortez of  fame would be all fkn over this 50 cent coin code challenge. Give us and include some coin-based code cracking, I’m begging.
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.