I t might interest readers to note that the announcement of a real SETI signal would proceed quite differently than what's transpired here. First and foremost, there would be no anonymity. Rather, there would be ample descriptions of the signal bandwidth, frequency and drift. Furthermore, the nature of SETI precludes cover-ups. It cannot be secreted away by nefarious groups and hidden from view.
Science is, by nature, an open endeavor.
If a researcher believes he or she has made a significant discovery, the information about what has been found, together with all the details of the experiment, are made public, and ultimately published in refereed journals. Any discovery worth making is worth verifying. Consequently, scientists depend on the rapid and critical scrutiny of other researchers to either verify their discovery or to dispute it. They do not hide the light of discovery behind curtains of secrecy. Such tactics, reminiscent of medieval sorcerers, should always be regarded with a good dose of healthy skepticism.