The National Security Agency’s recent tweet sent the Twitter world into puzzle-solving mode, as readers wondered: What’s with the “tpfcclfdtte?”
The tweet included three lines of seemingly nonsensical messaging, CNN reported. But there was really a reason to rhyme. Clue Number One: The tweet came from @NSACareers.
Turns out, NSA was sending out a coded communication to potential federal spy workers, using a “substitution cipher” to weed out the wannabes from the truly skilled. As interpreted, the message read: “Want to know what it takes to work at NSA? Check back each Monday in May as we explore careers essential to protecting our nation.”
NSA spokeswoman Marci Green Miller said the Twitter account is actually operated by the agency’s recruiting office.
“NSA is known as the code makers and code breakers,” Miss Miller said, according to CNN. And the tweet was simply “part of our recruitment efforts to attract the best and the brightest.”
The message was re-tweeted more than 1,100 times, CNN reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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