Everything you need to know about Capture The Flag competitions, from your first challenge to building a cybersecurity career. Perfect for complete beginners!
CTFs are cybersecurity competitions where participants solve challenges to find hidden "flags" - typically strings of text that prove you've successfully completed a task.
The most common format - various categories like web security, cryptography, reverse engineering, and forensics. Each challenge has a point value based on difficulty.
Teams maintain their own servers while attacking others. You'll patch vulnerabilities in your services while finding and exploiting flaws in opponents' systems.
Simulate real-world attacks against defended networks. These exercises test both offensive skills and defensive responses in realistic scenarios.
Don't worry if you're completely new to cybersecurity! Everyone starts somewhere, and CTFs are designed to be learning experiences.
Time Investment: 2-4 weeks of casual learning
Recommendation: Start with Web Security - it's most beginner-friendly!
✅ You WILL:
❌ You DON'T Need:
Start practicing on these beginner-friendly platforms before the main event!
⭐ Official Practice Platform! Our 2024 CTF challenges are still live for practice. Perfect preparation for the 2025 event.
Practice NowCarnegie Mellon's educational CTF platform. Perfect for absolute beginners with excellent tutorials and hints.
Start PracticingExcellent for learning Linux command line through wargames. Start with "Bandit" - perfect for beginners.
Play WargamesInteractive learning paths with virtual machines. Great tutorials covering all major cybersecurity topics.
Join PlatformMore challenging platform once you've mastered basics. Realistic penetration testing scenarios.
Try LaterPortSwigger's free web security training. Best resource for learning web application security.
Learn Web SecurityFocused on cryptography challenges. Great for learning mathematical concepts behind encryption.
Explore CryptoAll the tools you need are free! Here's your complete toolkit for CTF success.
💡 Important Note: These tools are recommended for learning and preparation, but no specific tools are actually required to win our CTF! Most challenges can be solved with basic command-line tools and a web browser.
Web-based tool for encoding, decoding, encryption, and data analysis. Perfect for beginners.
Use OnlinePre-loaded with hundreds of security tools. Available as VM or live USB.
DownloadEssential for web application testing. Free community edition available.
Get Free VersionNetwork protocol analyzer for capturing and analyzing network traffic.
DownloadCTF participation is one of the most valuable experiences you can have for a cybersecurity career.
CTFs provide real-world experience that you can't get from textbooks. You'll learn by doing, solving actual security challenges that mirror real threats.
Meet cybersecurity professionals, potential mentors, and future colleagues. Many careers start with connections made at CTF events.
CTF achievements demonstrate practical skills to employers. Document your solutions and writeups to showcase your problem-solving abilities.
Develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills that are essential in cybersecurity roles. Learn to think like both attacker and defender.
Many companies recruit directly from CTF events. Top performers often receive job offers, internships, or scholarship opportunities.
Build a reputation in the cybersecurity community. Strong CTF performance can lead to speaking opportunities, consulting work, and industry recognition.
Test security of systems and applications
Monitor and respond to security threats
Investigate and contain security breaches
Reverse engineer malicious software
Secure web applications and APIs
Design and implement encryption systems
Secure mobile applications and devices
Design secure cloud infrastructures
Common questions from CTF beginners
Join us for the ISC2 New Jersey Capture The Flag event and take your first step into cybersecurity!