Scary? Group Almost Done Piecing Together 5 Puzzles Composed of Shredded Paper
- Posted on December 1, 2011 at 2:51pm by
Liz Klimas
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At the end of October, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency issued a $50,000 challenge for anyone who could solve its five shredded paper challenges. The Daily Mail reports that one group — “All Your Shreds Are Belong To Us” – are just one shred of the last puzzle away from completing the task, but the clock is ticking as the challenge ends Dec. 4.
The challenge was presented to “ identify and assess potential capabilities that could be used by our warfighters operating in war zones, but might also create vulnerabilities to sensitive information that is protected through our own shredding practices throughout the U.S. national security community.”
The Daily Mail reports that “All Your Shreds Are Belong To Us” is using an “unknown” method to help them solve the puzzles and is rumored to be working on a forum called 4Chan:
The group claims that “crowd sourcing is basically cheating” — hinting that they have created a computer-based method of reassembling shredded documents.
The Daily Mail goes on to state that those leading the challenge so far have done so manually and used crowd sourcing, but notes that certain algorithms could be used to help find likely matches. The alumni of UCSD, for example, are banding together to try and get crowd sourcing to help them solve the puzzles, even offering rewards for people who help fit pieces together.
Although DARPA’s goal was to identify if there was a computerized way to put complicated shreds back together, if “All Your Shreds Are Belong To Us” has in fact developed a computer program to do so, it could mean the sensitive documents that average households shred could be at risk.
This story has been updated since its original posting.
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Dabldo
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:51pmAaaaahh? I thought they had this done years ago? Probably harder to scan the shreds than reassemble anyway. Oh. Forgot that exponential time it takes as the problem gets bigger. Still, parrallel processing, and networked bored pc’s and shouldnt take long at all. Takes ‘em longer if you take a few pieces and flush ’em. Far easier to hack into pc’s and most sites now anyway.
Report Post »autigers2010champs
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:47amI say feed them to the terrorists.
Report Post »idarusskie
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:12amthey shred and burn stuff at my work.
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:48amHmm… let me guess… you work at the Govt. offices in Ft. Meade….but there is No Such Agency!!
Report Post »beninferno
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:04amWhat ever happen to good old fashioned buring. Still the best way to dispose of anything since 10,000 B.C.
Report Post »Jas0n
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:50amThere are different classes of shredders. The best render the paper into dust and the info cannot possibly be recovered.
Report Post »Jasgent
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:50amGamers–That name is so awesome and is a running joke in the PC gaming community–Awesome!!!
Report Post »Superbird
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:34amI used to photoshop everything. In the late 90′, I was bored one night and shredded a picture. Scanned it in piece by piece and reassemble the image. Spending a few weeks afterwords fixing the image it looked ok. But it was far from perfect. I did this with various pictures up until 2003. I added it as a service to what I do on the side. No fish took the bate to ‘shredded restoration’. This is the first I heard about this Darpa maybe I’ll look into it….. It takes a good eye for layout, and learning how each piece curls and paper cut or tare. No piece is perfectly flat. You will see ow the next piece fits even if it folded or bent or corrupted within reason…. Superbird —
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:18pmHey, I’ve got a shredder that feeds immediately into a compost machine. Maybe they should see if they can assemble my emails and regular mail from that.
Needed a paper on one of my office days and I forgot it. The Boss didn’t take it with much humor when I said the shredder ate it. Just no funny bone in some folks!
Report Post »PheonixDragon
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:28pmI would give $50,000.00 to see if there is any one, or group, who can put together five sheets of shredded paper, after it has gone through my shredding system. But before any one takes me up on this challenge, my shredder puts out pieces of paper, as squares, not, strips. My shredder does crosscut shredding, so that what comes out is more like confetti, than strips. Believe me, it is next to impossible to piece back together a single sheet of paper which has gone through my shredder.
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:48pmEver heard of an incinerator?
Besides nowadays foreign countries like China already have their spies on the inside and outside. On the outside they can hack their way in on the inside it is a matter of plugging in a USB drive.
Report Post »watchmany2k
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:13amShread, put in bowl, add water, mix, then shape into balls of pulp
let dry, nice firestarters.
(to hold together better, a bit of corn starch or flour added for “glue”)
For this and more alternative fuels;
http://www.watchman2012.com/articles/spout18.shtml
We are one year old !
Report Post »THANK-YOU BLAZE READERS !
basskids
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 11:27amWhere can I get a system like that? Been wondering about composting my shreds . . .
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:08pmThe computer programs that were used to put together the pieces of the Dead Sea Scrolls could be of use here.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:27pmHow do they get their hands on OTHER‘S SHRED’S??
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:58pm@beckisnutsisnuts—When did you get out?
Report Post »JCoolman
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:57pmAre ya scared yet?
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:53pmNo it’s not scary. Stupid article.
gmoneytx
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 6:55pmShred the docs, then burn them, see if you can put the puzzle together now!
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:03pmor if burning is not an option: shred, add water & pulp the docs
Report Post »RossPoldark
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:04amWe use to be able to burn, but unfortunately, that was stopped a few years back due to the idiot environmentalists.
Report Post »orionreplay6607
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:08amOne method for us was to shred our docs, place shreds in coffee can, burn, then add water. Make it into a gray, gloppy mass. Easy. You can do this quickly and efficiently.
Report Post »K Chad Roberts
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 6:41pmTo put some context behind the “all your base are belong to us” phrase. It has since been taken as an icon to video-gaming culture. Most late-teen and 20-30 something gamers will recognize it. I first saw it in the game Starcraft. It was used by the game developers as a cheat that would instantly hand you the win for a game. Thus it could be appropriately interpreted as an “instant-win” type of program when refering to this “All Your Shreds Are Belong To Us” group.
Report Post »AmericanPatriot01
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:12pmActually it originated in a process of hack translation of a game that then got translated back to english back in the early 2K’s. Around the time that “leet” speek was starting to hit the scenes in the gaming and hacking communities. It was popularized by the gamers that were making fun of the bash hacks in japan and china. I havent seen it around in quite some time.
Report Post »ilikai
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 6:36pmknown fact that the military first shreds, then burns the shredded paper, then stirs the ashes to break them up too. Been doing this for over 20 years that I know of. Too easy to piece back shreds.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 6:18pm“All Your Shreds Are Belong To Us”? Huh? I’m puzzled by the name of this group.
Report Post »eshaw380
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 6:28pm80′s video game Zero Wing had a line in the opening where a guy said “all your base are belong to us” it was a very bad translation from Japanese to English.
Report Post »NC
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:56pmCardboard works just as well to prevent weeds, and it’s already brown.
Report Post »beckisnutsisnuts
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:53pmI need you to tell me that?
Report Post »Red Max
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:40pmNice game. I still prefer my confetti shredder.
Report Post »BannedByHuffpo
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:37pmAshes are much more difficult to reassemble.
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:30pmShreaded paper works great in the plant beds. Put a thick layer down and cover it with layer of pine straw and wet good. It will break down over time and help prevent weeds.
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:44pmThanks CountryGirl- I will put your theory to the test.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:55pmYou are also releasing the chemicals of the ink into the soil…
Report Post »AxelPhantom
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:01pmWe shread and then use it for firestarter in the fireplace.
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:32pmWhat a great idea! Why did I not think of that? It’s so obvious.
Place it in a plastic trash bag for storage till needed.
Thanks Axel.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:56pmDo the same… lights quick.
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