content/news/2014-04-26-april-1st-2014-followup.md

   1 author: yano
   2 date: 2014-04-26 18:05:01+00:00
   3 slug: april-1st-2014-followup
   4 title: April 1st 2014, Followup
   5 categories:
   6 - April 1st
   7 - freenode
   8 ---
   9
  10 It's been almost too long for this blog post to arrive here after the April Fools quiz this year. Thanks to everyone who participated!
  11
  12
  13
  14 The first ten people who completed the challenges are, in descending order of aprilness:
  15
  16 (times are listed in UTC)
  17
  18
  19
  20
  21
  22
  23
  24   1. 2014-04-02T18:25:17 booto
  25
  26     2014-04-02T23:36:53 Fuchs *
  27
  28   2. 2014-04-03T00:29:29 furry
  29
  30
  31   3. 2014-04-03T01:34:18 mniip
  32
  33
  34   4. 2014-04-03T09:41:38 jojo
  35
  36
  37   5. 2014-04-03T16:29:51 redi
  38
  39
  40   6. 2014-04-03T18:57:21 BlueShark
  41
  42
  43   7. 2014-04-04T15:33:24 larinadavid
  44
  45
  46   8. 2014-04-04T22:27:20 Omniflux
  47
  48
  49   9. 2014-04-04T23:02:19 apoc
  50
  51
  52   10. 2014-04-04T23:13:02 thommey
  53
  54
  55
  56
  57 _(*) user opted out of any prizes_
  58
  59 There were 25 additional nicks who completed the quiz and made it to the winner's circle but weren't fast enough to place in the top 10.
  60
  61
  62
  63 The prizes were cloaks for those in the top-10. In addition to the top-10 cloaks everyone else who finished the challenge that 'opted-in' were eligible for the _cloak lottery_. This was a lottery for 3 runnerup cloaks.
  64
  65
  66
  67 Out of the 25 additional people that completed the challenge, the following 3 won a cloak through the cloak lottery:
  68
  69
  70
  71
  72   * skasturi
  73
  74
  75   * danielg4
  76
  77
  78   * jojoa1997
  79
  80
  81
  82
  83
  84 Here are the riddles and their solutions, in the original order:
  85
  86
  87
  88
  89
  90
  91   * Level 0
  92
  93
  94     * The clue was given in the [April 1st blog post](http://blog.freenode.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/freenode41.png): _IyMjI3hrY2Q=_
  95
  96
  97     * That is the string `"####xkcd"` encoded using [base64](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Base64).
  98
  99     * The answer: **####xkcd**, which was the first channel in the quiz.
 100
 101
 102
 103
 104
 105   * Level 1
 106
 107
 108     * Clue: _Tnl2cHItbmFxLU9iby1qbnl4LXZhZ2Itbi1vbmU=_
 109
 110
 111     * This is a [rot13](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROT13)'ed and base64'ed string.
 112
 113
 114     * In [Python](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_%28programming_language%29): `"Tnl2cHItbmFxLU9iby1qbnl4LXZhZ2Itbi1vbmU=".decode('base64').decode('rot13')`
 115
 116
 117     * The answer: **####Alice-and-Bob-walk-into-a-bar**
 118
 119
 120
 121
 122
 123   * Level 2
 124
 125
 126     * Clue: _MKWkpKMa_
 127
 128
 129     * This is another string that is encoded with a series of base64 and rot13 transformations.
 130
 131
 132     * In Python: `"MKWkpKMa".decode('rot13').decode('base64').decode('rot13')`
 133
 134
 135     * The answer: **####reddit**
 136
 137
 138
 139
 140
 141   * Level 3
 142
 143
 144     * Clue: _SHg5RkR4SUpIeHFGSnlXVUlJSVFJeHFKCg== | Save this for a later level: [https://i.imgur.com/87cX9y4.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/87cX9y4.jpg) | 4 decodes needed_
 145
 146
 147     * Yet another string encoded with a series of base64 and rot13 transformations.
 148
 149
 150     * In Python: `"SHg5RkR4SUpIeHFGSnlXVUlJSVFJeHFKCg==".decode('base64').decode('rot13').decode('base64').decode('rot13')`
 151
 152
 153     * This yields: EBEORIETEMETHHPITI
 154
 155
 156     * Contestants were expected to do a web search for this and find out it is the end of the [Zodiac Killer's infamous message](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zodiac_cipher.png).
 157
 158
 159     * The answer: **####zodiac**
 160
 161
 162
 163
 164
 165   * Level 4
 166
 167
 168     * Clue: _[https://i.imgur.com/x4nejBh.png](https://i.imgur.com/x4nejBh.png) | LaTeX right direction | [Google!](https://lmsptfy.com/?q=alternatives%20to%20Google%20searching) | No maths needed_
 169
 170
 171     * The topic changed several times as contestants seemed pretty stumped on this level, the topic line above was its final form.
 172
 173
 174     * The answer: **####exner** - this was expected from figuring out what the equation is. Simply put, the equation in the image is [Exner's Equation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PaolaExnerEqnRock.jpg).
 175
 176
 177
 178
 179
 180   * Level 5
 181
 182
 183     * Clue: _[https://i.imgur.com/SandvWX.gif](https://i.imgur.com/SandvWX.gif) | Save this for a later level: [https://i.imgur.com/QpTubts.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/QpTubts.jpg)_
 184
 185
 186     * This level was pretty tricky. This is an image that has more to it than meets the eye.
 187
 188
 189     * Steps for recovering useful information:
 190
 191
 192       * Un[zip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zip_%28file_format%29) the [.gif](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_Interchange_Format)
 193
 194
 195       * Open the secret.txt file.
 196
 197
 198
 199
 200
 201     * Inside secret.txt is: ####Kolmogorov
 202
 203
 204     * The answer: **####Kolmogorov**
 205
 206
 207
 208
 209
 210   * Level 6
 211
 212
 213     * Clue: _[https://www.dropbox.com/s/emz7xy3p9r2ivxe/wat.unknown](https://www.dropbox.com/s/emz7xy3p9r2ivxe/wat.unknown) (verify the file, sha256sum: 0efade1bb29d1b7fdd65e5612159e262cbd41a2e27ed89a0144701a5556da68f)_
 214
 215
 216     * This file is more stenography:
 217
 218
 219       * Use '[file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_%28command%29)' to determine what the file type is.
 220
 221
 222       * Un-[7zip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7-Zip) the .unknown file
 223
 224
 225       * Base64 decode the output
 226
 227
 228       * Use 'file' to determine that the output is a [.jpg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG)
 229
 230
 231       * Unzip the .jpg
 232
 233
 234       * Un[tar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_%28computing%29) two.tar.[gz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gzip)
 235
 236
 237       * Open the surprised.txt file.
 238
 239
 240
 241
 242
 243     * The content of surprised.txt is: ####ImSoMetaEvenThisAcronym
 244
 245
 246     * The answer: **####ImSoMetaEvenThisAcronym**
 247
 248
 249
 250
 251
 252   * Level 7
 253
 254
 255     * Clue: _AQwPfPN1ZBXNfvNj4bPmVR4fVQYPfPNlZBXNfvNkAP4jZhXNflOS and "Da Vinci" | Jules Verne | s/.02/.03/ in the decrypted text
 256 _
 257
 258     * The clue is base64'ed and rot13'ed. To decode it in Python: `print "AQwPfPN1ZBXNfvNj4bPmVR4fVQYPfPNlZBXNfvNkAP4jZhXNflOS".decode('rot13').decode('base64')`
 259
 260
 261     * This yields: 48° 50′ 0″ N, 2° 20′ 14.02″ E
 262
 263
 264     * These are GPS coordinates for the [Paris meridian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Meridian).
 265
 266
 267     * From this and the "Da Vinci" clue contestants were expected to find the [Wikipedia](https://www.wikipedia.org/) page about the [Rose Line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Line).
 268
 269
 270     * The specific quote that contestants were suppose to find:
 271
 272     "Dan Brown simply invented the 'Rose Line' linking Rosslyn and Glastonbury. The name 'Roslin' definitely does not derive from any 'hallowed Rose Line'. It has nothing to do with a 'Rose Bloodline' or a 'Rose Line meridian'. There are many medieval spellings of 'Rosslyn'. 'Roslin' is certainly not the 'original spelling': it is now the most common spelling for the village."[18]
 273
 274 - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Line#Dan_Brown.27s_The_Da_Vinci_Code)
 275
 276
 277     * The "Jules Verne" clue is suppose to reaffirm to contestants that they were on the right track:
 278
 279     The competition between the Paris and Greenwich meridians is a plot element in Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea", published just before the international decision in favor of the British one.
 280
 281 - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Meridian#Origin)
 282
 283
 284     * The answer: **####roslin**
 285
 286
 287
 288
 289
 290   * Level 8
 291
 292
 293     * Original topic: Clue: _ZANKNMEPAXULMJCAGLKHKTOLUPSRDD | [https://i.imgur.com/6ayrOMq.png](https://i.imgur.com/6ayrOMq.png)_
 294
 295
 296     * New topic: _UIVXUJZIULMJCAGLKHKTOLUPSRDD | [https://i.imgur.com/6ayrOMq.png](https://i.imgur.com/6ayrOMq.png)_
 297
 298
 299     * The string in both topics is encoded with a [Four-square cipher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-square_cipher).
 300
 301
 302     * Here are two scripts that were built for Four-square:
 303
 304
 305       * encrypt, [http://git.io/Y6JIww](http://git.io/Y6JIww)
 306
 307
 308       * decrypt, [http://git.io/CQuh8g](http://git.io/CQuh8g)
 309
 310
 311
 312
 313
 314     * Using "IRC" and "xkcd" - the keys saved earlier, the text decrypts to: POVAROVOSOLNECHNOGORSKRUSSIA
 315
 316
 317     * Originally it was: ZELENOGRADSOLNECHNOGORSKRUSSIA
 318
 319
 320     * The answer: **####POVAROVOSOLNECHNOGORSKRUSSIA**
 321
 322
 323
 324
 325
 326   * Level 9
 327
 328
 329     * Clue: _ZCLVLLCOIUTKKJSCEKHHHSMKTOOPBA | OGUCSSGAPVGVLUMBTVOGICUNJDHSTB | RUTJJGNXUNTY | Letters that would repeat in a typical word do not repeat in the key(s), example 'freenode' would be 'frenod' | [https://i.imgur.com/pGIBjEE.png](https://i.imgur.com/pGIBjEE.png) | [http://is.gd/TgNsvm](http://is.gd/TgNsvm)_
 330
 331
 332     * Alright this one is really really really tricky. The topic changed _several_ times.
 333
 334
 335     * The three strings are encoded with [Four-square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-square_cipher) from the previous level with the same keys.
 336
 337
 338     * Contestants were expected to use 'UVB' and 'RUSSIA' as keys for the Four-square cipher.
 339
 340
 341     * It was expected that contestants arrive at 'UVB' from the channel name, ####POVAROVOSOLNECHNOGORSKRUSSIA
 342
 343
 344     * The former transmitter[27] was located near Povarovo, Russia[28] at 56°5′0″N 37°6′37″E which is about halfway between Zelenograd and Solnechnogorsk and 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Moscow, near the village of Lozhki.
 345
 346 - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UVB-76#Location_and_function)
 347
 348
 349     * The is.gd link points to a file that has the "No Q" image from a previous level hidden in it.
 350
 351
 352     * The "RUTJJGNXUNTY" decrypts to [AaronHSwartz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz)
 353
 354
 355     * The answer: **####AaronHSwartz**
 356
 357
 358
 359
 360
 361   * Level 10
 362
 363
 364     * Clue: _HKGJSUOJVRLGSBELAUHOUIGLVRURWMGTUGJGWTKN_
 365
 366
 367     * Originally this channel (####AaronHSwartz) was suppose to be the winner's circle, however due to too many people leaking answers and channel names, one more challenge was added.
 368
 369
 370     * Same cipher as before, this time the keys were 'DEMAND' and 'PROGRESS'
 371
 372
 373     * [_Demand Progress_](http://www.demandprogress.org/) is an Internet activist-related organization specializing in petitions to help gain traction for legal movements against Internet censorship and related subjects, started by Aaron Swartz, [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demand_Progress).
 374
 375
 376     * The clue decrypts to JOINUSNOWANDSHARETHESOFTWAREWRITTENBYRMS
 377
 378
 379     * RMS is [Richard Matthew Stallman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman), and [_'Join Us Now and Share the Software'_](https://www.gnu.org/music/free-software-song.html) is an openly licensed song by Richard Stallman.
 380
 381
 382     * The answer: **####JOINUSNOWANDSHARETHESOFTWAREWRITTENBYRMS**
 383
 384
 385
 386
 387
 388
 389
 390
 391 The topic in ####JOINUSNOWANDSHARETHESOFTWAREWRITTENBYRMS was: _Congratulations on solving the freenode's April Fools 2014 Crypto Challenge | Want MOAR? #ircpuzzles_
 392
 393
 394 Congratulations to those who participated this year!
 395
 396
 397
 398
 399
 400 The 25 additional people that completed the challenge:
 401
 402
 403
 404
 405
 406
 407   * 2014-04-05T04:06:53 knivey
 408
 409
 410   * 2014-04-05T10:00:12 Tordek
 411
 412
 413   * 2014-04-05T15:40:50 jacob1 *
 414
 415
 416   * 2014-04-05T15:48:48 stac
 417
 418
 419   * 2014-04-05T16:24:01 Changaco *
 420
 421
 422   * 2014-04-05T17:30:01 Arch-TK *
 423
 424
 425   * 2014-04-05T17:35:05 ar *
 426
 427
 428   * 2014-04-05T18:16:20 Weetos *
 429
 430
 431   * 2014-04-05T18:38:39 nyuszika7h
 432
 433
 434   * 2014-04-05T18:56:26 vi[NLR]
 435
 436
 437   * 2014-04-05T19:06:38 tkd *
 438
 439
 440   * 2014-04-05T21:54:56 Chiyo
 441
 442
 443   * 2014-04-05T22:46:01 slidercrank
 444
 445
 446   * 2014-04-05T22:54:10 jojoa1997
 447
 448
 449   * 2014-04-06T00:55:51 Pixelz *
 450
 451
 452   * 2014-04-06T02:53:25 Transfusion
 453
 454
 455   * 2014-04-06T02:58:15 DonkeyHotei
 456
 457
 458   * 2014-04-06T03:04:01 sdamashek *
 459
 460
 461   * 2014-04-06T03:07:49 Cypi *
 462
 463
 464   * 2014-04-06T03:36:03 FXOR
 465
 466
 467   * 2014-04-06T13:44:35 pad
 468
 469
 470   * 2014-04-06T19:22:06 skasturi
 471
 472
 473   * 2014-04-06T19:37:13 Bloodhound
 474
 475
 476   * 2014-04-07T08:16:22 molly *
 477
 478
 479   * 2014-04-07T14:42:32 Bijan-E
 480
 481
 482
 483
 484 _(*) user opted out of the cloak lottery_