Brilliant hacker Connor stumbles upon Cicada 3301, an internet-based puzzle that might serve as a recruitment method for a clandestine organization. Before long, Connor, along with his art-savvy friend Avi and the enigmatic librarian Gwen, find themselves racing from graffiti-covered locations to historic libraries in search of tangible clues. However, they must stay ahead of determined NSA agents, who are also pursuing Cicada and eager to claim the victory for themselves.