https://steemitimages.com/DQmXC9RjPgLSjL87jkzc4i2CuQQ37ZiA1X3gZiQdmfngKSE/DQmdxjwxsJCDFB9CrfojthFcYnKGZeC4B15DjNzLFbRQRYR.jpg [The 19th Steemit Crypto Challenge](https://steemit.com/steemitcryptochallenge/@timsaid/the-steemit-crypto-challenge-19-cc2k17-9-50-steem-power-prize) is over and we are happy to announce the winner: Congratulations @kouloumos!

You followed your intuition and stayed on the right track. Solving the puzzle you saved your reward, 50 Steem goes to you.

Solution

Here is a breakthrough, showing step by step what you had to do in order to solve the crypto-puzzle.
The two given hints were:

https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmSavYZzv7MpPTB2E2suXhuFzJD6dPGcpaQnC7SBaubRP6/cyber-security-1923446_1920.jpg

and

EnCt29fb99bd3dd8f3b4fa0c325cf0930adb06d809ee39fb99bd3dd8f3b4fa0c325cf/QBExFE1QAA a4/jMnlnhkHRbte0ToOnCsxIeGVKtNln9i8TS/jGUpdsx41L3d2DEhDE=IwEmS Decrypt it at https://encipher.it

The first step towards the final solution was to decipher the picture with the hand gestures. This was at first tricky because one of the letters was hard to decode. In addition to that, the letters were put in a random position. Looking up for sign language you would find the needed letters and only put them in the right order. The right word was **flowerpower** http://static.geo.de/bilder/5e/67/69458/article_image_big/gebaerdensprache-alphabet-c-8739107.jpg @jfollas solved this first task and was able to decrypt the second hint. What he found was the following link http://www.xup.in/dl,19212544/1.mp3/ which lead to this picture
https://steemitimages.com/DQmbTJJwobXa5wQAx54FAV2B5qrr3ay2FrF89D8DH7CdKLj/Clipboard%20-%20August%2026%2C%202017%2011-26%20AM.png
At first it appears to be a random string of A's and B's, however, a Bacon cipher was used here. Steemian @kouloumos was on the right track and decoded the cipher correctly which gave him the word **steemfest**. This was the password for the [defuse pastebin](https://defuse.ca/b/t6nOTKu2PjK585dgGoDnYe). Inside this pastebin was the final task. Encipher this code:

https://s28.postimg.org/tq4dv4pml/geometric-background-3.jpg @kouloumos found out that the runes are from the game _The legends of Zelda_ (http://jeffmore.com/hylian/) and finally came to the conclusion that the last code gives the word **laser**.

Great work and congratulations to the winner and all who participated. @jfollas you get 10 Steem for the first hint! Don't miss the next Steemit Crypto Challenge and be prepared.
Tim Said