Briefing
Greetings, Special Agent.
During a raid of our allies in the country of Oman, several computers and server equipment were confiscated. The authorities of Oman spent the past week analyzing the data that resides on this hardware. However, they were not able to make sense of all the data. This is where we come in. The Overseer of the Tiberian Order has agreed to a no-cure no-pay assignment for the government of Oman. If we manage to figure out what the file they’ve sent us means, we take on several additional contracts in the future, at very favorable terms.
A little more information about this file. It was found in a folder named “meeting location”. It had several text files in it, that all had written details about locations and people. There was one file however, that the Oman authorities were not able to convert to text. This is the file you find below. Please make sense of it and report your findings Special Agent.
As always, Special Agent, the contract is yours, if you choose to accept.
Materials
Answer Instruction
Use the answer to unlock the flagfile, this will reward you with your badge.
For this contract you will need to use the website https://what3words.com/
Answer Template:
country-district-city-areadialcode-what-three-words-business-type
Sample Answer:
italy-veneto-verona-045-hot-pasta-sauce-paper-mill
Flagfile
Be advised, the flagfile is an encrypted ZIP. Make sure your OS supports the ZIP format. Ensure the password contains no hidden characters or formatting, paste in Notepad first if the password doesn’t seem to work.
PS: Don’t forget to claim your Coins and XP, by posting your card in the #card-brag channel in Discord.
Official Write-up
Provided here is the official write-up, it does contain the answer. Use this if you’re stuck, or want to verify if you got the answer correct.
⚠️ SPOILER: Official Write-up
A Strange File
This contract involves investigating a strange file that was discovered during a police raid in Muscat, Oman. The file was found in a folder labeled “meeting location” and contains encoded information that the Oman authorities were unable to decipher.
Challenge Objectives
- Decode the encoded text in the strange file
- Geolocate the locations referenced in the decoded information
- Generate the password using the specific location details
Solution Steps
Step 1: Decode the Strange File
The briefing states that the strange file could not be converted to readable text by the Oman authorities. To unravel the encoded information, the player can use online tools like “File to Hex” and “Hex to Text” converters.
After decoding the hex-encoded text, the player should find that it contains two images.
Step 2: Geolocate the Images
The decoded images contain location-specific details that the player must use to identify the precise meeting spot.
Step 3: Determine the What3Words Location
Using the location coordinates or other clues from the images, the player should be able to determine the What3Words location for the meeting spot, which is “definitive.doorpost.thickness”.
Step 4: Generate the Password
The final password format is:
libya-nalut-dirj-47-definitive-doorpost-thickness-car-washThis includes the country, district, city, area code, What3Words location, and the type of business (car wash) at the meeting spot.
Additional Context
The prologue sets the stage by describing a police raid on a group of hackers operating out of an apartment in Muscat, Oman. This leads to the discovery of the strange file that the player must investigate.
The briefing provides additional details about the file and the Tiberian Order’s involvement in deciphering its contents to assist the Oman authorities.
Tips for Players
- Utilize online tools and resources to effectively decode the hex-encoded text
- Carefully analyze the decoded images to extract location-specific details
- Use the What3Words service to determine the precise meeting spot
- Ensure the final password is formatted correctly according to the instructions
Creator(s): Frank Diepmaat