Security News > 2021 > January > US administration adds “subliminal” ad to White House website

US administration adds “subliminal” ad to White House website
2021-01-22 19:49

Hidden messages, features or jokes in apps and websites are commonly known in hacker jargon as easter eggs, because they're supposed to be found and enjoyed, but they're not supposed to be immediately obvious.

One of the most famous easter eggs in commercial software history - if not the most complex - was the hidden flight simulator in Microsoft Excel 97.

One of the most famous computer games in software history, the first IBM PC version of Tetris, had a hidden spreadsheet as its easter egg, or more accurately as its boss mode.

Boss mode, activated with the boss key, often Ctrl-B or Alt-B so it was quick to type, popped up a more dubious sort of easter egg intended as a decoy.

Well, it turns out that the new 2021 White House website added a job ad, too, presumably hoping to get some publicity and to attract job applicants to the US Digital Service.

PS. If you know of any other 2021 website easter eggs you think our readers would enjoy, let us know in the comments below.


News URL

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2021/01/22/us-administration-adds-subliminal-ad-to-white-house-website/