CONTEST Alert

Another Security Scrapbook Contest is coming. 
(Hey, it has been a while.)

Here, Tuesday, May 31 at 12:01 PM, New York City time.

The first correct answer wins.

(This pre-contest announcement is made to give everyone who is interested 24-hours notice to get to the starting line at the same time.)

The Anna Chapman Spy Contest

Russian spy Anna Chapman has registered her name as a trademark to cash in on her growing popularity since she was deported in a Cold War-style swap last year, Russia's state patent agency told Reuters on Tuesday.

"Maybe she wants to open the 'Anna Chapman' dry-cleaner or make cookies," Nikolai Kravtsov, an official at the agency told Reuters... (more)

Some people become celebrities just from being named after a hotel, some for being a failed spy.

Anna's interesting time-line, July 2010 until now...

• U.S. sleeper spy who never awoke, was arrested and deported.

• Posed in lingerie for photo shoot.

• Attended a Russian space launch.

• Had a sing-along with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

• Nicknamed Agent "90-60-90" by the Russian press, referring to her alleged measurements.

• Attended a political youth rally.

• Attended a meeting of the commission on economic modernization and technological development of the Russian economy.

• Launched a weekly television show called "Mysteries of the World with Anna Chapman."

• Trademarks her name to pimp eight lines of merchandise, including vodka, clothing and watches.

So, what have you done since July?

 

FutureWatch: Anna Chapman has book signing at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC?

The first five corporate security directors (or similar, like Anna) to decipher the 5 AnnaGrams wins one of our "doesn't really work" (like Anna) break-a-way (like Anna) stainless steel (like Anna) lock pick sets. Place answers here.

Students: Enter for your chance to win an Interview with a Spy!

Ever wonder what a real spy does? Do they really drive a car like James Bond, have really cool gadgets, and make narrow escapes around every corner? Now’s your chance to find out!

The International Spy Museum announces a new student podcast in which student’s questions from across the nation will be accepted and possibly selected for this exclusive podcast interview with a real spy. (more)

Contest Answer

The cypher comes from Edgar Allen Poe's short story "The Gold Bug."

Set on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, the plot follows William Legrand, who was recently bitten by a gold-colored bug. His servant Jupiter fears him to be going insane and goes to Legrand's friend, an unnamed narrator who agrees to visit his old friend. Legrand pulls the other two into an adventure after deciphering a secret message that will lead to a buried treasure.

Poe submitted "The Gold-Bug" as an entry to a writing contest sponsored by the Philadelphia Dollar Newspaper. His story won the grand prize and was published in three installments, beginning in June 1843. The prize also included $100, likely the largest single sum Poe received for any of his works. "The Gold-Bug" was an instant success and was the most popular and most widely-read of Poe's works during his lifetime. It also helped popularize cryptograms and secret writing. (more)

The coded message reads, "A good glass in the bishop's hostel in the devil's seat forty-one degrees and thirteen minutes northeast and by north main branch seventh limb east side shoot from the left eye of the death's-head a bee-line from the tree through the shot fifty feet out."

After decoding Captain Kidd's message about where the buried treasure was hidden the main character, William Legrand, explains to his companion how he figured out what the bishop's hostel was...  

"It left me also in the dark," replied Legrand, "for a few days; during which I made diligent inquiry, in the neighborhood of Sullivan's Island, for any building which went by the name of the 'Bishop's Hotel'; for, of course, I dropped the obsolete word 'hostel.' Gaining no information on the subject, I was on the point of extending my sphere of search, and proceeding in a more systematic manner, when, one morning, it entered into my head, quite suddenly, that this 'Bishop's Hostel' might have some reference to an old family, of the name of Bessop, which, time out of mind, had held possession of an ancient manor-house, about four miles to the northward of the island. I accordingly went over to the plantation, and re-instituted my inquiries among the older negroes of the place. At length one of the most aged of the women said that she had heard of such a place as Bessop's Castle, and thought that she could guide me to it, but that it was not a castle, nor a tavern, but a high rock." (more)

Contest Clue

It could be said that this message was: written by two people (The author of the story and, by extension,  one of the characters referenced in the story.); then decoded by two people (Again, the author and the character in the story who decoded the message); that three people were involved in these endeavors (The author, Character 1 and Character 2; and, none of these people ever met each other. 

Even decoded, the message is mysterious. A place mentioned (a hostel), assumed to be a structure, turns out to be something quite different. What was it?

The answer, Monday, September 13, 2010 at noon (EDT).

Contest Alert

I received a friendly tap on the shoulder reminding me that it has been a while since our last Security Scrapbook contest.

Previous contest winners know the prizes are worthy of the effort. The contests are also fun and sometimes educational. Be sure to give it a try. 

The next contest will be posted on Saturday, September 11 at noon (12:01 PM EDT).

The challenge level for this contest question will be Difficult.The first three correct answers received via our web site's contact form win (the URL will be posted with the contest). Good luck! ~ Kevin

Contest - You vs. the Swiss Army (USB)

Carl Elsener Jr, the current president of the Swiss army knife maker Victorinox and grandson of the company's founder, was in London this morning to promote the company's latest product: a secure USB flash drive.

And when he says secure, he doesn't appear to be mucking around. Victorinox is so confident of the combination of encryption and fingerprint security built into the drive that it has offered a reward to anyone who can crack it.

Think you've got what it takes to crack the Victorinox code? If you succeed, be prepared to walk away $100,000 richer. It's that simple.
Click here to to send us your registration by email!
View Rules and Regulations (PDF)

PS - If you screw it up, the data self-destructs!

Make Magazine Spy Gadget Contest

Coming soon! Contest starts on November 17th, 2009

MAKE is teaming up with the Penguin Group to present The Alex Rider Dream Gadget Contest!

All of you adventure-seekers and gadget lovers out there are invited to join in. If you were Alex Rider, what gadget would you want in the upcoming adventure "Crocodile Tears"?

Design your dream Alex Rider gadget, inspired by an everyday object (i.e. an iPod, toothpaste, a pen).

The winning gadget will be built right here at the MAKE Labs. Send us a schematic of what your gadget is made from and how it works. (Your schematic can be a diagram, a drawing or an explanation by you).

Remember that the winning gadget will be inspired by an everyday object that one could realistically build (as much as we wish we could create a pair of scissors that could fly us to the moon)! (more)

FYI... (via boingboing.net)
"In case you're unaware, Alex Rider is a young spy whose exploits are chronicled in a popular series of teen spy/adventure books. Alex uses all sorts of crazy high tech contraptions, made from things in his school backpack, to get out of sticky situations."

Let me know your ideas. Just for fun, I will post them here with your initials and country or state. To play for the prize, visit Make Magazine.

*CONTEST* (CLOSED) Help me track down an international spy.

Help me track down an international spy.
I have been chasing this person for over 20 years now.
Over this time, my spy has been seen in these cities, in this order;
but for no longer than a month at a time...
Seoul, South Korea
Barcelona, Spain
Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
Sydney, Australia
Beijing, China
Based on this, what city should I plan on traveling to for my next chance to see this spy again?

First correct answer via e-mail wins a nice prize. ~Kevin

We have a winner!
HZC from Texas, who says... "You should look for him in London, England. And Perhaps if you cant find it there afterwards at Rio de Jainero, Brazil"
Why? Because our spy follows the Olympics!

He will be receiving the really cool "Book of Secrets" Check the "Look inside" at amazon.com to see what it is all about. ~Kevin

New Contest to be Posted 10/2 @ 12:01 PM EST

Our last contest was such a success we are doing another one.
Be here, Friday, October 2, 2009 at 12:01 PM EST.

"Why the specifics?"

Some of our Security Scrapbook family receive the Scrapbook in digest form via e-mail. To give them a fair shot at "first correct answer received wins," they need some advance notice. ~Kevin

Contest - Police Brain Teaser - [ended]

[CONTEST OVER - CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS!]
The police get a tip that a man named Max is a murder suspect. They are told he is at a particular address, in a particular apartment playing poker with three other people. They raid the apartment, kick in the door and immediately arrest Max without saying a word, or questioning the other players.

How did they immediately know which person was Max?

The answer will be posted tomorrow...
Answer: He was playing poker with three women.

We accepted the first four winners (in order).
JR from Australia
AV from California
DF from New York
EJ from Canada
They will be receiving the really cool "Book of Secrets" Check the "Look inside" at amazon.com to see what it is all about. ~Kevin