The Cicada 3301 Mystery

Beginning in January 2012, a series of elaborate puzzles appeared on the internet, posted by an unknown organization calling itself Cicada 3301. The puzzles required expertise in cryptography, steganography, programming, and obscure historical and philosophical knowledge. No one knows who created them or what happened to those who solved them.

The First Puzzle

On January 4, 2012, an image appeared on 4chan’s /b/ board. It showed text reading: “Hello. We are looking for highly intelligent individuals. To find them, we have devised a test.”

Following the embedded clues led to increasingly difficult challenges. Solvers had to decode messages, find hidden data in images, and follow trails across multiple websites. The puzzles required knowledge of Latin, Anglo-Saxon runes, Mayan numerology, and obscure works of literature.

Physical Components

The puzzles were not confined to the internet. Clues led to physical locations where posters had been placed: London, Paris, Warsaw, Seoul, and other cities worldwide. Someone had coordinated an international scavenger hunt.

The resources required to place these posters suggested an organization with significant means, not just a few clever hackers.

Subsequent Puzzles

New Cicada 3301 puzzles appeared in January 2013 and January 2014, following similar patterns but increasing in difficulty. Each iteration required more obscure knowledge and more sophisticated technical skills.

The 2014 puzzle referenced a “book” called Liber Primus (First Book), written in runes and only partially deciphered to this day.

Who Are They?

Cicada 3301’s identity remains unknown. Theories include:

A government intelligence agency recruiting analysts or cryptographers.

A secret society seeking new members through intellectual testing.

An alternate reality game created by artists or academics.

A cryptocurrency or tech company testing potential employees.

The Winners

Some people solved the puzzles and were contacted by Cicada 3301. According to those who have spoken publicly, they were invited to a private forum and presented with more challenges. None have revealed what happened afterward.

Assessment

Cicada 3301 represents a genuine mystery. The puzzles were real, demonstrably placed by someone with resources and sophisticated knowledge. People solved them and were contacted. What happened next is unknown.

The organization has been silent since 2016. Whether Cicada 3301 found who they were looking for, whether the project ended, or whether they continue in secret, the cicada has left only questions in its wake.