GCHQ Christmas Challenge Puzzles

GCHQ has launched its annual Christmas challenge for 2024, inviting the public to solve a series of puzzles designed to test codebreaking, mathematics, and lateral thinking skills. The challenge, presented in a Christmas card from Director Anne Keast-Butler, includes clues related to UK landmarks and features both simple and complex tasks. The initial challenge involves deciphering five images that represent a location, while a more difficult puzzle requires participants to calculate discrepancies in a sequence of numbers. GCHQ's chief puzzler, known as "Colin," emphasized the importance of diverse thinking and collaboration in solving these puzzles, which mirror the analytical skills needed in the agency's work. The challenge aims to engage a wide audience, including students, with a third of secondary schools already participating. Keast-Butler noted that the challenge is designed for various skill sets and encourages teamwork among friends and family. The full challenge is available on GCHQ's website, and the agency hopes to inspire interest in careers in intelligence among young people who excel at the puzzles.

- GCHQ's 2024 Christmas challenge includes puzzles related to UK landmarks.

- The challenge is designed to engage diverse thinkers and promote teamwork.

- A third of secondary schools in the UK have already downloaded the puzzles.

- The puzzles aim to replicate the analytical skills used in GCHQ's work.

- The full challenge can be accessed on GCHQ's official website.