If you take a really close look at the logo for the newly-created US Cyber Command, you'll see something interesting.

Printed within the gold ring on the logo was a curious series of letters and numbers. It didn't take long to figure out that the string of characters may in fact be some sort of encoded message and Wired put its readers on the case.

So what was the curious text? Directions to long-lost treasure? A covert Illuminati communication? Incriminating information about a wide-reaching Vatican conspiracy? Aneesh Chopra's Texas chili recipe?

Well no. It turns out that the code is in fact an MD5 hash string. When translated, it becomes the Cyber Command's own mission statement: "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."

So it may not be the Mercury code, but still a pretty cool trick. And you have to admire the department's determination. Clearing the miles and miles of bureaucratic red required to get that logo approved likely meant that more than a few minutes were spent explaining the concept to some very technologically-challenged government officials. 

09 Jul 2010