Props to whoever can solve this puzzle

mikesol · #1 01-26-2011, 05:37 PM

So a couple weeks ago a friend found an advertisement that just had this image on it:

Edit: The first step has been solved below. There are quite a lot more left to do. Please don't assume you've figured this puzzle out. You will receive an e-mail after completion of the last step.

After a couple hours we managed to finish this "puzzle" (we won t-shirts and hats for being the 3rd, 4th, and 5th people to finish it

).

Anywho I figured I'd share it with you guys on the off-chance any of you are interested in puzzles. For a real challenge - see if you can solve the whole puzzle without looking up the answers to parts of it that have been posted on random forums.

If you want a hint or something post here and I'll try and come up with one that doesn't ruin it.

Danielle · #2 01-26-2011, 05:45 PM

Is that not just one of those bar codes you can scan on your phone?
When I scan it it just says "Solve me." at www.ohaipuzzle.com

I'd like a hint.

tgleaf · #3 01-26-2011, 05:45 PM

How weird. I was just thinking about this technology on my drive to work this morning.

Edit: I was trying not to give away too much, Danielle.

MajorPayne257 · #4 01-26-2011, 05:46 PM

Lol I used my barcode scanner on it and the website just says "Solve me." That's kinda awesome

mikesol · #5 01-26-2011, 05:51 PM

So you decoded it and it said "solve me" so solve it. You've only uncovered step 1 of 6. That's my hint for now. Consider what else might be on that site.

Ingbo · #6 01-26-2011, 06:10 PM

So you can't solve it just by looking at it? You have to use other programs? Mad props btw

mikesol · #7 01-26-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ingbo

So you can't solve it just by looking at it? You have to use other programs? Mad props btw

I mean you'll need what is built into certain browsers to get past this stage. All future stages can be solved with a combination of research and looking at it.

I recommend downloading chrome and checking what features it has

sunshineduck · #8 01-26-2011, 06:27 PM

if anyone solves it, plz dont post anything until I get a good try at it after class in mah dorm

tgleaf · #9 01-26-2011, 07:05 PM

Safari has no features =(.

This just proves Mikesol is smarter than me. But I knew that already.

Ajuk999 · #10 01-26-2011, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgleaf

Safari has no features =(.

This just proves Mikesol is smarter than me. But I knew that already.

Sure Safari does, especially the Developer plugin!

I used to love Safari then I downloaded Firefox one day and haven't changed since.

banana · #11 01-26-2011, 07:24 PM

Well this is the code of the page

<html>
<head>
<title>Solve me.</title>
<style type="text/css">
body { background:#fff; color:#000; }
h1 { font-weight:normal; font-size:54pt; margin-top:3.5em; text-align:center; }
h3 { font: 12pt/1.3em courier,monospace; margin:1em; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Solve me.</h1>

<script type="text/javascript">

var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-20536986-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();

</script>
</body>
</html>

banana · #12 01-26-2011, 07:25 PM

h1 1035x84

is the secret clue on that page i think.

86940

tgleaf · #13 01-26-2011, 07:36 PM

Fine, I'll download and install Chrome. If you work for Google, Mike, I'm gonna be pissed.

sunshineduck · #14 01-26-2011, 07:51 PM

I'm hella far in this I think.

I have 2 things I know are right after a little prodding by my comp sci major roommate, stuck on the last part or two :\

mikesol · #15 01-26-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgleaf

Fine, I'll download and install Chrome. If you work for Google, Mike, I'm gonna be pissed.

I don't work for google and I generally prefer safari to chrome. However chrome's developer tools far surpass safari's in my experience with both.

SSD sounds like you're nearing the last step. Good luck!

Edit: also tgleaf our skills are just different - doesn't mean i'm any smarter

sunshineduck · #16 01-26-2011, 08:15 PM

yeah I'm gonna need a hint on this last part

are you able to get on AIM?

mikesol · #17 01-26-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunshineduck

yeah I'm gonna need a hint on this last part

are you able to get on AIM?

You've almost got it all. Good luck with the last part

Ribilla · #18 01-26-2011, 09:11 PM

Finished! It's a unicorn. Can I have my money now please?

MajorPayne257 · #19 01-26-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesol

So you decoded it and it said "solve me" so solve it. You've only uncovered step 1 of 6. That's my hint for now. Consider what else might be on that site.

Ahaha I'm not that ignorant to think that was the answer

[Y] · #20 01-26-2011, 10:02 PM

nvm .

sunshineduck · #21 01-26-2011, 11:08 PM

Congraulations!

You are the 26th person to submit a correct solution to the OHai Puzzle.
We hope that you enjoyed participating in this open challenge as much as we
enjoyed creating it.

mikesol · #22 01-26-2011, 11:08 PM

Congrats to SSD for being the 26th individual to solve it.

tgleaf · #23 01-26-2011, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunshineduck

Congraulations!

You are the 26th person to submit a correct solution to the OHai Puzzle.
We hope that you enjoyed participating in this open challenge as much as we
enjoyed creating it.

Congraulations!

You are the 27th person to submit a correct solution to the OHai Puzzle.
We hope that you enjoyed participating in this open challenge as much as we
enjoyed creating it.

Oh, so that's how you do it.

<----- lazy.

sunshineduck · #24 01-26-2011, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgleaf

Congraulations!

You are the 27th person to submit a correct solution to the OHai Puzzle.
We hope that you enjoyed participating in this open challenge as much as we
enjoyed creating it.

Oh, so that's how you do it.

<----- lazy.

qfcongraulations

[Y] · #25 01-26-2011, 11:43 PM

wat is this puzzle i don't even >_<

mikesol · #26 01-26-2011, 11:49 PM

As a heads up that was the e-mail ssd actually got for completing it xP

banana · #27 01-26-2011, 11:54 PM

I think I've been barking up the wrong tree, back to drawing board.

Goose · #28 01-27-2011, 01:52 AM

can someone post the results after everyone has stopped solving it? i can't figure this out, mainly due to the fact that i am a 'left brain' thinker, therefore my mind is wired not to be able to know how to do stuff like this...

mikesol · #29 01-27-2011, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose

can someone post the results after everyone has stopped solving it? i can't figure this out, mainly due to the fact that i am a 'left brain' thinker, therefore my mind is wired not to be able to know how to do stuff like this...

I don't want to post the answers to these on the forums. If you want a clue I'd be happy to send you one or answer questions over pm.

elxir · #30 01-27-2011, 05:28 AM

colonel mustard in the library with the candlestick

mikesol · #31 01-30-2011, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elxir

colonel mustard in the library with the candlestick

That quote got you on reddit lol Clicky! (The message "guy over here appears to have solved it")

Clapon · #32 01-30-2011, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesol

That quote got you on reddit lol Clicky! (The message "guy over here appears to have solved it")

i lol'd .

Urpee · #33 01-30-2011, 04:46 AM

I have no idea how to get the info for the second step in Chrome, but anyway. The later steps are pretty easy.

It's definitely a puzzle for computer nerds.

Princess Squirtle · #34 01-30-2011, 07:51 AM

If you liked that puzzle, you should try this website : http://www.ouverture-facile.com/ Lots of hard puzzles, and you definitely need to be a computer nerds too (but not only).

MajorPayne257 · #35 01-30-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesol

That quote got you on reddit lol Clicky! (The message "guy over here appears to have solved it")

Ahaha that's awesome. Especially that guy who couldn't tell he was trolling

mikesol · #36 02-23-2011, 12:55 AM

So if anyone who was interested in this then wants to know the answers - a friend of mine (the guy who I worked with) wrote up a post on how to do it all (now that the puzzle is closed).

Read here!

[Y] · #37 02-23-2011, 01:11 AM

No computer programming knowledge needed, eh?

Urpee · #38 02-23-2011, 01:36 AM

It's clearly a test for web-protocol savviness, almost all parts have some relationship to HTTP, except for the block cipher and the 2D barcode.

I actually tried to get the first part by telneting in and doing a manual HTTP GET but their web server errors in order to ensure that the browser supports javascript (so their analytics setup works). I ended up doing this part by installing a HTTP sniffer addon to firefox (still don't know how to get to HTTP headers in Chrome).

The X-Encode field is base64 encoded, this is actually another HTTP-style test, as MIME encodings use that base. Once decoded (I used some random online decoder) you get the full URL, so just copy-paste and get the block cipher. For anyone who has ever seen ciphers this is pretty easy and reading RFC's is what nerds do in the evening.

I didn't do the last step because I didn't see the point in letting them know my email address.

This indeed doesn't require programming but people who are likely succeeding at this probably have a programming background. It just doesn't happen that easily that people get into HTTP otherwise.

mikesol · #39 02-23-2011, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [Y]

No computer programming knowledge needed, eh?

What programming knowledge was needed? ^^ You simply needed to know about websites or computers in general. I offered hints on the first step too if people got stuck. The 2nd part is just solving a puzzle and using google to figure out what the other numbers meant.

Edit: Urpee beat me to it =(

elxir · #40 02-23-2011, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesol

That quote got you on reddit lol Clicky! (The message "guy over here appears to have solved it")

LOL wtf???