5 ms·

Cool! This reminds me a lot of this[0] where there was a specification for a custom VM in a newspaper along with a binary. It still blows me away when I read ho

Cool! This reminds me a lot of this[0] where there was a specification for a custom VM in a newspaper along with a binary. It still blows me away when I read how they solved the puzzle. [0] https://safiire.github.io/blog/2017/08/19/solving-danish-defense-intelligence-puzzle/ https://safiire.github.io/blog/2017/08/19/solving-danish-def...

jve 7y ago
I imagine that this would be a good way to find some of the best reverse-engineers in the world :)
- wolfgke 7y ago
  > I imagine that this would be a good way to find some of the best reverse-engineers in the world :) Just a consideration: aren't the names of these persons "principally" known (at least if you are willing to do some investigations) if you are a company/government agency that has an interest in them?
  - NieDzejkob 7y ago
    I'd imagine that this is a good way to pique their interest. Then, when they succeed with solving the puzzle, they are less likely to forego the "prize" of working with the agency.
    - wolfgke 7y ago
      I respect your reasoning, just a counterpoint: I (and I know quite some programmers who think the same) really hate it when for piquing my interest some fancy puzzle/problem is presented, but the real work that is to be done has nothing to do with the marketing. I don't believe that such kind of "false advertising" is a smart way to retain talent. If I wanted to attract talent, I would rather put some problems on the company website that are really related to problems that occur(ed) in such a job position to attract talent that exactly loves the kind of problems that likely does occur at the job position that I want to fill.
  - lallysingh 7y ago
    Nope. How would you find out who reverse engineers a lot and gets good at it? Some names will be popular through fame or common channels, but you'll never get a full list. Especially RE when some of their activities aren't legal and they don't want to be found.
    - wolfgke 7y ago
      > Especially RE when some of their activities aren't legal and they don't want to be found. I have trouble believing that if you don't want to be found, you will participate in a reverse-engineering competition with your real-life identity.
      - lallysingh 7y ago
        No you wouldn't. I was responding to this ideas that all the really skilled people are well known.
MrBuddyCasino 7y ago
That was impressive.

jve 7y ago

I imagine that this would be a good way to find some of the best reverse-engineers in the world :)

wolfgke 7y ago
> I imagine that this would be a good way to find some of the best reverse-engineers in the world :) Just a consideration: aren't the names of these persons "principally" known (at least if you are willing to do some investigations) if you are a company/government agency that has an interest in them?
- NieDzejkob 7y ago
  I'd imagine that this is a good way to pique their interest. Then, when they succeed with solving the puzzle, they are less likely to forego the "prize" of working with the agency.
  - wolfgke 7y ago
    I respect your reasoning, just a counterpoint: I (and I know quite some programmers who think the same) really hate it when for piquing my interest some fancy puzzle/problem is presented, but the real work that is to be done has nothing to do with the marketing. I don't believe that such kind of "false advertising" is a smart way to retain talent. If I wanted to attract talent, I would rather put some problems on the company website that are really related to problems that occur(ed) in such a job position to attract talent that exactly loves the kind of problems that likely does occur at the job position that I want to fill.
- lallysingh 7y ago
  Nope. How would you find out who reverse engineers a lot and gets good at it? Some names will be popular through fame or common channels, but you'll never get a full list. Especially RE when some of their activities aren't legal and they don't want to be found.
  - wolfgke 7y ago
    > Especially RE when some of their activities aren't legal and they don't want to be found. I have trouble believing that if you don't want to be found, you will participate in a reverse-engineering competition with your real-life identity.
    - lallysingh 7y ago
      No you wouldn't. I was responding to this ideas that all the really skilled people are well known.

MrBuddyCasino 7y ago

That was impressive.