#cryptokids

“Hi Kids!

We’re the CryptoKids® and we love cryptology. What’s cryptology? Cryptology is making and breaking codes. It’s so cool. We make codes so we can send secret messages to our friends. And we try to figure out what other people are writing about by breaking their codes. It’s a lot of fun.

On this site, you can learn all about codes and ciphers, play lots of games and activities, and get to know each of us - Crypto Cat®, Decipher Dog®, Rosetta Stone®, Slate®, Joules™, T.Top®, CyberTwins™ Cy and Cyndi, and, of course, our leader CSS Sam®.

You can also learn about the National Security Agency/Central Security Service - they’re America’s real codemakers and codebreakers. Our Nation’s leaders and warfighters count on the technology and information they get from NSA/CSS to get their jobs done. Without NSA/CSS, they wouldn’t be able to talk to one another without the bad guys listening and they wouldn’t be able to figure out what the bad guys were planning.

We hope you have lots of fun learning about cryptology and NSA/CSS. You might be part of the next generation of America’s codemakers and codebreakers.”

About NSA/CSS

The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) is America's codemakers and codebreakers. NSA was created in 1952 by President Harry S. Truman to unite military and civilian codemakers and codebreakers. CSS was created in 1972 by NSA Director VADM Noel Gayler, USN, and includes the cryptologic units of each of the military services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. These units are called Service Cryptologic Elements (SCEs). The Director of NSA is also the Chief of the CSS. Our current Director is GEN Keith B. Alexander, USA. Our current Deputy Director is Mr. John C. (Chris) Inglis.

Together, NSA and CSS provide the technology (Information Assurance) and the information (Signals Intelligence) our Nation's leaders and warfighters need to get their jobs done. Without NSA/CSS, they wouldn't be able to talk to one another without the bad guys listening and they wouldn't be able to figure out what the bad guys were planning. The combination of foreign Signals Intelligence and Information Assurance, called Cryptology, gives the United States an advantage over its enemies.

KEWL is right!

5 Sites That Prove the U.S. Government Sucks at the Internet

#5. The NSA's Kids' Site Is Even Creepier Than the Adult One

Since 2005, the NSA's CryptoKids characters have tried to steer the youngest Americans into embracing a fun and wacky career in code-breaking. Each CryptoKid has an elaborate backstory, which means that some poor bastard had to come up with nine different explanations for why an anthropomorphic squirrel would give a shit about cryptography. For example, there's T. Top, the Linkin Park-wannabe turtle whose hobbies include computer programming and consistently spelling "cool" like a douche.

America’s national security personnel are among the most well-funded in the world, so it will come as no surprise to learn that the government is putting even more money into recruiting spies from an increasingly tender age.

The NSA's website site has a section entirely devoted to children, named “CryptoKids”. The flash-powered site uses interactive content, such as games and activities, to teach its self-styled “future codemakers and code breakers” the ways of the spy.

The NSA is committed to keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists by enlisting children and teaching them these complex ciphers that will leave North Korea shaking in its boots.

It even provides users with instructions on how to make homemade spy gadgets such as cipher disks, making that step to homemade bombs all the easier.

There are also games to inspire even the youngest spies by teaching you how to spot a fake ID and how to write in Morse code.

And there's also a light-hearted word search, where you can find words such as “vietnam war" and "slave quilt" to keep you entertained - hours of brainwashing fun.

You can also learn how to say 'hello' in other languages, so you can defy language barriers with all your friends in Russia, Somalia and Iraq. Which is nice.

On this site, you can learn all about codes and ciphers, play lots of games and activities, and get to know each of us - Crypto Cat®, Decipher Dog®, Rosetta Stone®, Slate®, Joules™, T.Top®, CyberTwins™ Cy and Cyndi, and, of course, our leader CSS Sam®.

You can also learn about the National Security Agency/Central Security Service - they’re America’s real codemakers and codebreakers. Our Nation’s leaders and warfighters count on the technology and information they get from NSA/CSS to get their jobs done. Without NSA/CSS, they wouldn’t be able to talk to one another without the bad guys listening and they wouldn’t be able to figure out what the bad guys were planning.