[Metalab] 2013-02-19 Crypto Games on teh Interwebs: Challenges for no apparent reason

Ohai friends and neighbors, Recently a few Games/Challenges/Cryptic Messages appeared on several channels on the internet which are well-known for attracting all sorts of alternative netizens and dwellers of the deep web. While these challenges have no confirmed author or goal several groups and individuals are making large efforts to break these encrypted messages and solve the riddles. I would like to introduce two of them: "Cicada 3301" and "Charlie one Umbra" and try to reconstruct some of the methods used. Greets, MiKa