Brilliant hacker Connor discovers Cicada 3301, an on-line witch hunt that could be a recruiting device for a secret culture. Quickly Conner, art-expert close friend Avi, and also secretive librarian Gwen are dashing from graffiti websites to ancient libraries to reveal real-world ideas. However they must outrun hostile NSA agents, also warm on the path of Cicada, that desire the glory for themselves.