The narrative suggests that those who download or view the file experience strange phenomena, ranging from computer malfunctions to psychological disturbances.
Most creators of these ARGs provide safe ways to view the "file" (such as a YouTube video or a protected website) rather than requiring an actual peer-to-peer download.
It draws heavily from Analog Horror and Lost Media tropes. The goal is to make the viewer feel as though they have stumbled upon something the public was never meant to see. Is it a real virus?
The project is a digital horror/mystery narrative that utilizes the aesthetic of old internet forums, file-sharing sites, and corrupted data. It centers around a mysterious file numbered 2222222 which, within the game's lore, is said to contain anomalous, disturbing, or "cursed" content.
random .torrent files or executable files from unverified "mystery" links found on social media.
The "downloaded" content usually consists of cryptic videos, highly distorted audio, and flashing imagery.