The Mystery of Cicada 3301

This is a real internet mystery that was never fully explained. In 2012, a strange image

appeared on 4chan with a single message: “We are looking for highly intelligent individuals.” The

image secretly contained hidden codes using real cryptography and steganography. People who solved

the first layer were led to more puzzles, secret websites, and even QR codes

placed in real-world locations across multiple countries. A small number of solvers reached

the final stage and were contacted privately. The group behind the puzzle was known

as Cicada 3301. They returned with new puzzles in 2013 and 2014, but never revealed

their identity. To this day, no one knows who they were, or what the puzzle