In 2012 some people shared their n semi-prime from the RSA puzzle on forums despite cicadas specific instructions not to.
The encrypted message is a number. Break the decryption key, then come back
to this same URL and enter the decrypted message to continue.
Each person who has come this far has received a unique message encrypted
with a unique key. You are not to collaborate.
Sharing your message or key will result in not receiving the next step.
Some of those people (those that got caught) were removed from game. They received this email:
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
Hello. You have shared your information online. You are now removed from this altogether.
Even if you crack the key you've been given it doesn't matter, because you have demonstrated
that you can't be trusted to follow simple instructions anyway.
Thank you for your participation to this point.
Goodbye.
3301
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.11 (GNU/Linux)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=kPlo
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
What does this mean for the current puzzle step(Liber Primus)?
Objectively, it means nothing. In 2012 solvers were given specific instructions to not share this information. The ones that were removed did not follow those instructions(or, at least, got caught not following them). In the current puzzle step we have been given no instruction to not work together, and solvers working together in years after weren't punished.
The benefits of sharing information and working together outweigh any disadvantage at this current step.
