U.S. Cyber Command logo / 9ec4c12949a4f31474f299058ce2b22a

Researcher cracks 'secret' code in U.S. Cyber Command logo MD5 cryptographic hash translates into cyber defense command's mission statement

A security researcher said on Thursday he was the first to crack the code embedded in the seal of the U.S. Cyber Command (Cybercom), the group responsible for protecting the country's military networks from attack.

Sean-Paul Correll, a threat researcher with antivirus vendor Panda Security, said that the characters visible in a gold ring on Cybercom's official seal represent the MD5 hash of the group's mission statement. MD5 is a 128-bit cryptographic hash most often used to verify file integrity.

A representative of Cybercom confirmed that Correll had it right. " Mr. Correll is correct...it's a MD5 hash," said Lt. Commander Steve Curry of the U.S. Navy, in an e-mail.

"It wasn't very difficult," said Correll, adding that thanks to the clue on Wired.com's Danger Room blog, it took him just a few minutes to figure out that the characters -- 9ec4c12949a4f31474f299058ce2b22a -- were the hash value for Cybercom's mission statement.

"I knew right away it was an MD5 hash, and I was fairly confident that it wasn't a specific file," said Correll, adding that security professionals will often use an MD5 hash as reminders, or to verify that a file's contents after downloading match the original edition.

Correll said he figured out the mystery shortly after 10 a.m. PT Wednesday, within an hour of Wired.com publishing its story.

At least one other code-breaker came up with the same solution. Buried in the nearly 500 comments added to the Wired.com story was the solution, posted Wednesday at 12:46 p.m. PT by someone identified only as "jemelehill".

In a follow-up story, Wired.com credited jemelehill with first decoding the message.

"Information security professionals are very challenge driven," said Correll, so tackling the problem was fun...while it lasted. "Absolutely, this was definitely fun," he said.

Correll is familiar with code-breaking problems, since Panda regularly sponsors secret code challenges. The next challenge is scheduled to go live at 3:00 a.m. ET Saturday, 12:00 a.m. PT.

The MD5 value is a hash of Cybercom's 58-word mission statement, Correll noted on his blog: "USCYBERCOM plans, coordinates, integrates, synchronizes and conducts activities to: direct the operations and defense of specified Department of Defense information networks and; prepare to, and when directed, conduct full spectrum military cyberspace operations in order to enable actions in all domains, ensure US/Allied freedom of action in cyberspace and deny the same to our adversaries."

Cybercom was created in June 2009, when Defense Secretary Robert Gates approved the group. Two months ago, the Senate appointed Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander as the head Cybercom. Alexander is also the director of the National Security Agency (NSA).

U.S. Cyber Command is part of the U.S. Strategic Command, and is based in Fort Meade, MD. Several units of the U.S. military, including ones from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines comprise Cybercom.

Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His e-mail address is gkeizer@ix.netcom.com.

Read more about Cybercrime and Hacking in Computerworld's Cybercrime and Hacking Topic Center.

Found Here: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9179004/Researcher_cracks_secret_code_in_U.S._Cyber_Command_logo?taxonomyId=13

The Apotheosis of Washington

At the center of the American Rite is the U.S. Capitol. The Apotheosis of Washington in the eye of the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Encoded within this fresco is a major Secret of the American Rite. We’ll go to the Capitol and stand in the center of the Rotunda. When we look up we’ll see George Washington in a ring of stars and looking down at us. This fresco, painted by Constantin Brumidi in 1865 is called The Apotheosis of Washington. The word "apotheosis" means literally the raising of a person to the rank of a god. Just like the ascension images of Jesus and Buddha Washington rides upon a rainbow. If you stand high up in the Rotunda and look down towards the distant floor below, you have a vision reminiscent of Hollywood's portrayal of Star-gates. We'll take that amazing view and see the Star-gate for ourselves! As William Henry will explain throughout this amazing tour the alchemical transformation of man into a god and the concept of the Stargate are the keys to unraveling the mysteries of the American Rite.
Found Here: http://www.chetsnow.com/americanrite.html

The Apotheosis of Washington depicts George Washington becoming a god (apotheosis). Washington, the first U.S. president and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, is allegorically represented, surrounded by figures from classical mythology. Washington is draped in purple, a royal color, with a rainbow arch at his feet, flanked by the goddess Victory (draped in green, using a horn) to his left and the goddess Liberty to his right. Liberty wears a red cap, symbolizing emancipation, from a Roman tradition where sons leaving the home and/or slaves being emancipated would be given a red cap. She holds a fasces in her right hand and an open book in the other.

Forming a circle between Liberty and Victory are 13 maidens, each with a star above their heads, representing the original 13 colonies. Several of the maidens have their backs turned to Washington, said to represent the colonies that had seceded from the Union at the time of painting.

Surrounding Washington, the two goddesses, and the 13 maidens are six scenes lining the perimeter, each representing a national concept allegorically: from directly below Washington in the center and moving clockwise, "War," "Science," "Marine," "Commerce," "Mechanics," and "Agriculture":

The symbolism and lore surrounding the famous fresco have been mentioned in the latest Dan Brown novel The Lost Symbol.

Found Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apotheosis_of_Washington

Twin Towers in US money

I just did this a couple of minutes ago and scan them to my computer...But starting out with the one its the twin towers just standing...but the higher the money the more damage to the towers are...Then the 100 dollar its just smoke left..just thought it was neat

Found Here: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/569802/


Result: The Pentagon ablaze

Found Here: http://www.foldmoney.com/