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Cicada 3301

Cicada 3301 is a nickname given to an alleged enigmatic organization that posted three sets of puzzles online between 2012 and 2014 to recruit codebreakers from the public. The first Internet puzzle started on January 4, 2012, on 4chan and ran for nearly a month. A second round began one year later on January 4, 2013, and then a third round following the confirmation of a fresh clue posted on Twitter on January 4, 2014. The third puzzle has yet to be solved. The stated intent was to recruit “intelligent individuals” by presenting a series of puzzles which were to be solved. No new puzzles were published on January 4, 2015. However, a new clue was posted on Twitter on January 5, 2016. Cicada 3301 posted their last verified PGP-signed message in April 2017, denying the validity of any unsigned puzzle.

The puzzles focused heavily on data security, cryptography, steganography, and internet anonymity.

It has been called “the most elaborate and mysterious puzzle of the internet age" and much speculation exists as to its function. Many have speculated that the puzzles are a recruitment tool for the NSA, CIA, MI6, a "Masonic conspiracy" or a cyber mercenary group. Others have claimed Cicada 3301 is an alternate reality game, although no company or individual has attempted to monetize it. Some of the final contestant believes that Cicada 3301 is a remnant of the 90s Cypherpunk movement.

According to statements of several people who won the 2012 puzzle, 3301 typically uses non-puzzle-based recruiting methods, but created the Cicada puzzles because they were looking for potential members with cryptography and computer security skills.

The first puzzle, of 2012, was solved by Marcus Wanner. According to him, those who solved the puzzles were asked questions about their support of information freedom, online privacy and freedom, and rejection of censorship. Those who answered satisfactorily at this stage were invited to a private forum, where they were instructed to devise and complete a project intended to further the ideals of the group. He did not finish his work on a method of general decryption and the website was removed.

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Hocus Pocus: in purple.

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Y'all know that I love caves so I have to post this

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🪦RETURN OF THE LIVING SHRED🪦

James Callahan  // Barf Comics for Toxic Coffin

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"Avian defense is common sense", say it with me, kids!

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creepy + ghostly mushrooms

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Super Sailor Uranus

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Deku Icons • MHA S5 EP. 25

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Lea Yunk on Etsy / Society6

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𝕾𝖆𝖎𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖔𝖓