Capture The Flag Competitions

Capture The Flag competitions describe challenge-based or adventure-based competitions that involve solving a series of technical challenges. After a team has solved a challenge, the team is presented with a flag, hence the name.

Types of Capture The Flag Competitions

Challenge-Based Competitions

Challenge-Based Capture The Flag competitions are comprised of discrete and individual challenges. Each challenge is typically given a point value that will be awarded to the team that solves it. Challenges can be solved in any order; this allows teams to work on challenges individually and of any difficulty. Newbie teams that are trying to gain experience favor this type of competition because it makes it easy to give up on frustrating challenges to work on other challenges.

Adventure-Based Competitions

Adventure-Based Capture The Flag competitions are comprised of challenges that follow a structured order. Each challenge is typically part of a plot line, and the team who gets the furthest into the story wins. Challenges usually have to be completed in order, so teams have to solve each challenge before continuing on to the next challenge. Experienced teams favor this type of competition because it requires lots of skill and motivation to do well.

Attack-Defend Competitions

Attack-Defend CTF Competitions are

Wargames

Wargames are always online CTF competitions.

Experience

Teams can only gain experience three ways: practice, practice, practice. But also, watching presentations about competitions and reading write-ups.

Why

Capture The Flag Competitions Contribute A Necessary Component Of The Computer Security Curriculum