Between 2012 and 2014, an anonymous group known as Cicada 3301 captivated internet codebreakers with three sets of elaborate cryptographic puzzles. The first appeared on 4chan in January 2012, featuring layered encryption and steganography that sent solvers on intricate hunts across digital and physical space. The group's identity and purpose—whether recruiting for an intelligence agency, conducting an art project, or something else entirely—has never been revealed. After the 2014 puzzles, they vanished completely, leaving behind only questions and a devoted community of puzzle enthusiasts still analyzing the clues. According to Boing Boing's coverage, the mystery endures.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton