The correct posture for getting started with the latest CTF in 2023

foreword

With the enhancement of network security awareness, more and more people have begun to get involved in the field of network security, among which CTF competition has become an important learning and competition platform. I have been engaged in network security work for many years, and have also participated in large and small CTF competitions. Today I will introduce the process of CTF in detail, as well as the knowledge required, and how to learn to compete in CTF competitions.

1. What is a CTF competition?

The full name of CTF is Capture The Flag, which is a network security technology competition, which aims to provide a challenging platform for participants to demonstrate in technical challenges in different fields (such as cryptography, reverse engineering, Web and binary vulnerabilities, etc.) my ability. The CTF competition originally originated in the safety technology courses of major universities around the world. It is participated by a team composed of professors and students. There are also CTF competition sessions in many large safety technology conferences.

CTF competitions generally consist of various questions and problems in the security field. Participants need to use their knowledge and skills to find answers and successfully overcome them within the time limit. Competitions usually consist of different stages, each with different levels of challenge and difficulty. Some phases will need to be tackled collaboratively with teammates, while others will need to be tackled independently.

A major feature of the CTF competition is that there is no definite reference answer in the competition. The solution to each problem is not unique, and sometimes may even require the use of multiple technical means, and the process of solving the problem is also very creative and interesting. Therefore, the CTF competition not only examines the technical level of the contestants, but also examines their creativity and problem-solving ability.

The types of topics in the CTF competition are very diverse, including cryptography, reverse engineering, binary vulnerabilities, web security, exploits, etc., and there may even be some very special topic types. These questions may require contestants to crack encryption algorithms, analyze malicious codes, or manipulate command lines, etc., aiming to examine their mastery and application capabilities of security technologies.

CTF competitions are usually participated in as a team, and team members can cooperate with each other to overcome problems together. The specific number of team members, limited time and competition rules, etc. can vary according to different competitions. Participants need to complete as many challenges as possible within the allotted time and get a high score in the final scoring. Grades are usually ranked based on metrics such as the number and difficulty of problems solved and time to complete.

All in all, the CTF competition is a very interesting and very challenging cybersecurity competition. Participating in CTF competitions can help participants improve various types of skills, and it is also a very good platform to learn and demonstrate security technologies.

2. The process of CTF competition

The process of the CTF competition is similar to other Hackathon competitions. It is mainly divided into registration, team formation, pre-match practice, official start of the competition, communication and summary, etc.

1. Registration

The first step is of course to find some CTF ratios that you are interested in.

contest and sign up for it. Usually, the official website of a CTF competition will provide a registration form, and the contestant needs to fill in personal information, such as name and email address. Some CTF competitions will require participants to pay registration fees to ensure the fairness, impartiality and authenticity of the competition.

2. Team up

In CTF games, team formation is crucial. Generally speaking, a team needs 3 to 5 people. If the number is too small, it is difficult to complete multiple tasks. If the number is too large, the coordination and communication of the team will be affected. In the process of forming a team, it is important to choose experienced and trustworthy players, and make sure that the team has some basic cybersecurity skills and knowledge.

3. Practice before the game

Before the start of the CTF competition, participants can practice some CTF questions provided online. These questions will simulate different types of questions that appear in the competition, so that you can better understand the process and content of the CTF competition.

4. The game officially begins

After the official start of the CTF competition, participants need to obtain flags by solving various competition problems. Different types of problems may be encountered during the game, such as password cracking, hidden code detection, memory overflow, vulnerability exploitation, etc. Therefore, contestants need to use their skills in the competition and cooperate with the team to solve various difficulties.

Timing is very important. Within the time limit of the CTF competition, contestants and team members need to give full play to their skills, solve problems quickly and get high scores. In addition, you need to pay attention to safety during the game. If you accidentally leak answers from your own team or other teams, you may lose some valuable opportunities.

5. Communication and summary

After the CTF competition, participants can communicate with team members and other participants. They can discuss their achievements and difficulties, and share tips and methods on how to solve various problems. Participants should also summarize their performance and find out the problems and areas for further improvement in the competition.

3. Required knowledge

To be a successful CTF contestant, one needs to possess some necessary knowledge and skills. The following are some common areas of knowledge:

1. System security: This is one of the most basic knowledge. CTF participants must be familiar with various operating systems, and be familiar with system vulnerabilities and attack techniques.

2. Network Security: Participants also need to understand the basics of network security, such as network protocols, attack and defense techniques, network sniffing and network analysis, etc.

3. Encryption/decryption: CTF competitions usually involve various ciphers, and participants need to understand various common encryption and decryption techniques. This includes knowledge of symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hash functions, and more.

4. Web Security: Many of the challenges in the CTF are related to web security. Contestants must be familiar with the security features of web applications and web servers, and understand how to detect and exploit web security vulnerabilities.

5. Reverse Engineering: In CTF competitions, reverse engineering is often a way to bypass security measures. Contestants need to have knowledge of different file formats and programming languages, as well as disassembly and debugging skills.

6. Programming Skills: Programming skills are very important for CTF entrants. Participants need to be familiar with common programming languages ​​(such as C, C++, Python, etc.), and have the ability to solve problems

 

Four. Summary

CTF competitions are fun and challenging activities for cybersecurity enthusiasts. Participating in CTF competitions can help people learn and improve a variety of different skills, such as system security, cryptography, web security, and more. Especially joining an excellent team, cooperating with each other and sharing experience is very rewarding. If you want to become a network security expert, CTF competition is definitely one of your must-have experiences.

Due to the limited space, I also organize some CTF information here. If you need it, you can leave a message in the comment area or private message me to get it~