Cicada 3301

Many have speculated that the puzzles are a recruitment tool for the NSA, CIA,[13] MI6, a "Masonic conspiracy",[14] or a cyber mercenary group.

[2] Theories have included claims that Cicada 3301 is a secret society with the goal of improving cryptography, privacy, and anonymity or that it is a cult or religion.

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.

[citation needed] The Cicada 3301 clues spanned many different forms of communication media, including but not limited to the Internet, telephone, original music, bootable Linux CDs, digital images, physical paper signs, and pages of unpublished cryptic books written in runes.

In addition to using many varying techniques to encrypt, encode, or hide data, these clues also referenced a wide variety of books, poetry, artwork, and music.

[10][20] Authorities from the Los Andes Province of Chile claimed that Cicada 3301 is a "hacker group" and engaged in illegal activities.

[26] The United States Navy released a cryptographic challenge based on the Cicada 3301 recruitment puzzles in 2014 calling it Project Architeuthis.

[33][34] In the video game Assassin's Creed Origins, a member of the Isu civilisation references Cicada when listing off various mysteries of history.