What is a CTF?
Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions are cybersecurity contests where participants solve challenges to find hidden "flags" - usually strings of text that prove you've solved the problem. Think of it as a puzzle game for cybersecurity!
Types of Challenges
🌐 Web Security
Find vulnerabilities in websites and web applications. Learn about SQL injection, XSS, and authentication bypasses.
- SQL Injection
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Authentication Bypass
- File Upload Vulnerabilities
🔍 OSINT
Open Source Intelligence gathering. Use publicly available information to solve puzzles.
- Social Media Investigation
- Metadata Analysis
- Google Dorking
- Image Analysis
🔐 Cryptography
Decrypt messages, break ciphers, and solve mathematical puzzles.
- Caesar Cipher
- Base64 Encoding
- RSA Encryption
- Frequency Analysis
🔄 Reverse Engineering
Analyze programs to understand how they work and find hidden functionality.
- Static Analysis
- Dynamic Analysis
- Assembly Language
- Debugging
🔍 Forensics
Analyze digital evidence to find hidden information and reconstruct events.
- File Carving
- Memory Analysis
- Network Traffic Analysis
- Steganography
🖥️ System Administration
Configure systems, manage networks, and solve infrastructure problems.
- Linux Commands
- Network Configuration
- Service Management
- Log Analysis
Essential Tools
Web Security
- Burp Suite - Web application security testing
- OWASP ZAP - Free web application scanner
- Browser DevTools - Built into Chrome/Firefox
- Postman - API testing
Cryptography
- CyberChef - Swiss Army knife for data analysis
- Dcode.fr - Online cipher decoder
- Python - For custom scripts
General Tools
- Linux Terminal - Command line interface
- Wireshark - Network protocol analyzer
- Ghidra - Reverse engineering framework
- GIMP - Image analysis and steganography
Getting Started Tips
🎯 Start Simple
Begin with easy challenges. Don't be discouraged if you can't solve everything immediately.
📚 Read Everything
Challenge descriptions often contain hints. Read them carefully and look for hidden clues.
🔍 Think Outside the Box
CTF challenges often require creative thinking. Try different approaches and don't give up easily.
👥 Work with Others
Join our Discord server to ask questions and collaborate with other participants.
📝 Take Notes
Document your solutions and techniques. You'll learn faster and help others.
🔄 Practice Regularly
Try other CTF platforms like PicoCTF, OverTheWire, or TryHackMe to build your skills.
Common Flag Formats
Flags usually follow these patterns:
AUCTF{flag_text_here}- Our event formatflag{text}- Common formatCTF{text}- Another common format- Sometimes just plain text without brackets
Resources for Learning
Online Platforms
- PicoCTF - Beginner-friendly challenges
- OverTheWire - Wargames and tutorials
- TryHackMe - Guided learning paths
- CTFtime - CTF calendar and writeups
Learning Materials
- OWASP - Web application security
- Cryptopals - Cryptography challenges
- LiveOverflow - YouTube tutorials
- CTF Writeups - Learn from others' solutions
Ready to Start?
Now that you have the basics, you're ready to tackle the ACUCyS Christmas CTF! Remember:
- ✅ Start with easier challenges
- ✅ Ask questions in Discord
- ✅ Take breaks when needed
- ✅ Have fun and learn!