Cicada 3301 is probably the biggest mystery of the modern internet. It’s a secret organization run by unknown people that has posted a set of puzzles with a purpose to recruit “highly intelligent individuals”. For past few years, Cicada 3301 has raised lots of different questions and conspiracies surrounding real purpose of these puzzles. One of the biggest questions is who is behind all of that? Some people claim that Cicada 3301 is a secret organization run by the US Government which looks for computer security experts with high-level skills in cryptography. Other people have claimed that Cicada is some kind of a cult or religion. Entire communities have been created in order to solve puzzles and find answers to all these questions. Here is the video that explains the story behind this internet mystery:
1. What do you think? Is Cicada 3301 a real thing or just another internet “rickroll”?
2. Would you like to try to solve them?
3. Who do you think is behind these puzzles?
Comments
Of course that I’d like to try to solve them because I like puzzles. I’ve even stopped writing right now and check google :D I will go back to cicada later.
It’s hard to determine what may be behind these puzzles. Maybe a group of hackers or maybe a company that needs great it guys.
I would love to try to solve this but I don't think I would get far. More likely I would be defeated after 2 weeks of struggle.
As I said at the beginning I suppose there is a big organization hidden behind Cicada 3301 that has a really big interest in it. The gaps of time between tasks might be intentional just to see who will be so determined to stay on this topic. Im looking forward to see what happends with Cicada because it gives me a feeling like it is some science fiction movie.
2. Definitely - yes. If I there will be the next puzzle, I will try.
3. I have no other ideas, so I can agree with the author of the video that behind this all is a group of people who are addicted to cryptography and they have one general idea. What is not the idea of "protecting the rights" uniting people?
In my opinion this may be a work of a big secret organisation which is just keen on cryptography or maybe the reason of looking for the best specialists in the globe has deeper meaning? I must admit that reason is what interests me the most.
I am not good at puzzles and I think I wouldn't be able to solve any but it sounds misterious I will defenetely check it out
I think his explanation seems plausible - a group of people with the interest in privacy could indeed organize such an elaborate puzzle. This whole event was definitelly real for all the participant and it's incredible how creative and difficult those puzzles were. As much as I consider myself an intelligent individual, I doubt I would be able to solve all of them and get to the end of it. But it would be nice to be a part of the group that was working on cracking them down.
But who knows, maybe Cicada 3301 indeed managed to reach their goal, maybe the work done by the first group of winners was enough? Maybe emergence of some technology (like blockchain) invalidated their research. Or maybe someone just wanted to publish his own ideology in the form of a cryptic book which was the core of the third puzzle? We might never actually know this.
Anyway, I'm glad I got to know this story, thank you!
So, moving to your questions:
It's hard to say for me what actually is this group but I don't think it's just another rick roll ( but if it is, it's really epic one thought). Maybe this is some kind of recruiting tasks for company like Google? Who knows?
I think that I do not have so much time to solve those puzzles but if I were jobless or something like that I would give it a try, cause it looks super fun + it makes you to think a lot.
I can't even imagine, who is behind the Cicada. Maybe it's just a group of friends that got boring the other night and decided to throw a party, and all these riddles was just invitations. I am pretty sure, from what I've heard from the video, we will hear about Cicada 3301 once more, when time will come.
2. Of course, why not? At least it can train the brain and help to discover some cryptography things.
3. People. I think it is a group of people made this just for fun.
2. I would like to try to solve them but I know I would fail. But the amount of new skills I could learn from just trying would be enough for me to be pleased.
3. Maybe a group of people that are highly interested in anonymity on the Internet. Or just bored people with passion for puzzles.
2. Previous puzzles – not really, future puzzles – yes, as long as there are no costs involved.
3. Either an organization of influential free thinkers or yet another internet troll.
As I said before, I probably wouldn't be able to solve the puzzle, mostly because my lack of interest in web, networks and cyber security topics. But maybe if I would have a lot of free time I would try.
Everything connected with cryptography and stenography sounds really impressive for me and I would like to solve this puzzle but seems like it takes a lot of time and efforts and I am not sure whether I would like to spend such huge amount of time on it.
Probably some bigger organization or group of enthusiasts that have lots of money but rather not government. Frankly I have no idea.
Really impressive and fascinating video. Thanks a lot!
whole thing has been silent for so long and no one knows what it was.
I don't think so that I would like to try solving these riddle because it really time consuming.
I would like to try to solve them, the world of cryptology is new to me so it's dazzling and quaint.
2. Probably not, because I do not have time for such a thing. It was really interesting to listen about it and watch how to solve those puzzles but nothing more.
3. As I said a bunch of friends with too much free time 😊
No. I have better thinks to do.
Probably a group of cyberpunk fans with good IT knowledge and to much free time.
2. Simply not, I don't have such skills :/ I like puzzles, rubik cubes but I found Cicada and cryptographic puzzles way to hard.
3. Already answered that in first point. Organisation or group of inteligent people.
Well done troll.
I think that Cicada can be a real mission for some people who have set themselves the goal of uniting and doing something in life. It is not an easy task but seeing their riddles do not go easy.
It's clear that I would like to try to solve such puzzles, but I feel that I would not be able to solve them.
You can only guess who is behind such a big action. I suppose they are people who don’t have much to do with politics, but as they say they want to create something safe on the internet. I would be glad to meet them.
Behind these puzzles? As I said, big organization which have a special plan but it's only my guess.
2. Yes !
3. I think that an explanation from the movie You have shared is quite reasonable. Who knows - maybe those who solved this mystery are still being "watched", and after some time, we will hear about Cicada 3301 again ? Also, what about the rest of their book, which hasn't been translated yet ?
2. I do. I think the most fun part of that project is that it still happening.
3. It’s too hard to say. For me it looks like some kind of modern art. Everyone knows Banksy but that would be a blind pick
I don't think that I want to try to solve them. I don't think that I will suggest to try that kind of puzzles for my friends or even for my enemies, because behind these puzzles a world of deep infinite nonsense is covered.
Nowadays it's very hard to tell - a lot of people are just making fun in the internet. There are a lot of "trolls", who will try to trick you every single time. I've heard something about Cicada 3301 some time ago, but I don't know what to think about it.
2. Would you like to try to solve them?
No, I don't want to and I think that I would fail miserably :P
3. Who do you think is behind these puzzles?
Maybe internet trolls, or real serious people. Who knows?
Yeah why not, I could give it a try but I am not a genius. If this riddles are for the greatest minds I don't think i'll be able to solve any of the quests. I have no idea who could be behind the puzzles, It could be CIA, FBI who recruit people through this riddles or any other secret organisation.