Today we've released the 2022 #GCHQChristmasChallenge. The puzzle, masterminded by a team of our in-house puzzlers, features on our Director's annual Christmas card. The card is sent to partners in the UK and around the world who work with us to counter threats, including hostile state activity, terror groups and organised crime gangs.
Whilst the Challenge has been designed for schools and colleges, we're also encouraging the wider public to take on the challenge to pit their wits against our puzzlers.
The 2022 Christmas Challenge features seven fiendish puzzles based on the seven disciplines of languages, engineering, codebreaking, analysis, maths, coding and cyber security - all key skills needed at GCHQ to help keep the country safe.
But this year’s Challenge comes with a twist…once you solve all seven puzzles, you'll need to think outside the box, using the design on the front of the card to assemble the answers, forming three separate what3words locations. Joining the three place names together will reveal our special festive answer.
Director GCHQ Sir Jeremy Fleming, said:
From breaking Enigma to harnessing the latest cutting edge technology, our brilliant people have worked together throughout our history to help keep the country safe.
This year’s GCHQ Christmas Card Challenge gives an insight into the skills we need every day as part of our mission – from languages to coding.
But skills alone won’t be enough to crack this one. Puzzlers need to combine a mix of minds to solve the seemingly impossible.
Based on the seven disciplines featured in the recently published Puzzles for Spies book, the #GCHQChristmasChallenge tests the lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance needed by those working here at GCHQ across our missions to keep the country safe.
Young people who enjoy the Christmas Card puzzles and are interested in developing their cyber skills are encouraged to take part in the National Cyber Security Centre’s CyberFirst activities, or find more brainteasers in the puzzles section of our website.