Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2000/05/09/cmon_readers_lets_all/

C'mon readers, let's all be James Bond

Crack the UK secret service site code and win a life in the shadows

By Tim Richardson

Posted in On-Prem, 9th May 2000 14:38 GMT

A Register reader claims to have cracked part of the code on a British secret service recruitment site. Those who can crack the code can have a shot at becoming a spy for Britain. Agent X, as we like to call him, says he took just five minutes to find one of the five codes hidden on the secret squirrel site. Apparently, the text is hidden in the background colour of the Web site. Sneaky, eh? It displays "01001100 01011001 01000110 0100111 01010010", which Agent X says is hex 4C 59 46 4F 52, or ASCII for "L Y F O R". If that's the case, it's possible that "L Y" is the end of one word and "F O R" is another. Perhaps the code will eventually spell a phrase or instruction. If any other Register readers can crack the other four parts, please let us know. The site is here. Together, we can beat this thing. ® Related stories: UK spies recruited online