Learn CTF from scratch, the perfect route to become a top player

Foreword:

I have participated in many CTF competitions, and I got a good place in one of them. During the competition, I learned a lot of valuable skills and insights. Through my articles, I will share these experiences and tips, hoping to help others who want to enter the field of CTF.

CTF overview

CTF (Capture the Flag) is a cybersecurity competition that tests participants' skills and experience by solving a series of security problems. For network security enthusiasts and practitioners, learning CTF is a good choice.

The following is a detailed plan and route for learning CTF from scratch:

1. Basic knowledge

To start learning CTF, you first need to master some basics:

Programming language: Most of the CTF questions involve programming languages, such as C, Python, Ruby, etc. Hence the need to learn one or more programming languages.
Computer network: There are many network-related questions in the CTF questions, such as protocols, ports, IP addresses, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to learn the basic concepts and knowledge of computer networks.
Operating system: Many issues involved in the CTF topic are related to the operating system, such as processes, file systems, permissions, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to learn the basic concepts and knowledge of the operating system.
Encryption algorithm: Many issues involved in the CTF topic are related to encryption algorithms, such as symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption, hash functions, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to learn the basic concepts and knowledge of encryption algorithms.

You can learn these basics by studying related books, online courses, blogs and so on. Here are some resources you can use:

Books: "Introduction to Algorithms", "Computer Networks", "Operating System Concepts", "Cryptography", etc.
Online courses: related courses on platforms such as Coursera and edX.
Blog: related articles on Blog Garden, CSDN and other blogs.

2. Theoretical knowledge

Learning CTF also requires some theoretical knowledge. This theoretical knowledge includes:

Buffer overflow: A buffer overflow is a bug that occurs in a program by entering too much data into a buffer. You need to learn the fundamentals and attack methods of buffer overflows.
Stack and Heap: Stack and Heap are two different data structures in memory. When learning buffer overflow, you need to understand the basic concepts and usage of stack and heap.
Shellcode: Shellcode is a small program that can run on the operating system. When learning buffer overflow, you need to understand the basic concepts and writing methods of Shellcode.
Encryption algorithm: When learning encryption algorithm, you need to understand symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption: you need to understand the basic principles and differences of these two encryption algorithms.
Malware: You need to understand common malware types and attack methods, such as viruses, worms, Trojan horses, etc.
Web Security: Need to understand the basic principles and security vulnerabilities of web applications, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting attacks, etc.

You can learn these theoretical knowledge by reading related books, online courses and blogs. Here are some resources you can use:

Books: "Hacking Attack and Defense Technology Collection", "CTF Field Guide", etc.
Online courses: related courses on platforms such as Udemy and Coursera.
Blogs: related articles on blogs such as XCTF, N0secure, etc.

3. Practical skills

After mastering the basic knowledge and theoretical knowledge, you need to start practicing CTF questions. Here are some resources you can use:

CTF competition: Participating in CTF competition can allow you to get in touch with more CTF topics and exercise your problem-solving ability. You can register an account on the online CTF platform and participate in various types of competitions.
CTF practice platform: Some online platforms, such as Hack The Box, Vulnhub, CTF365, etc., provide a large number of CTF topics for learning and practice.
Write-up: When you encounter a problem that cannot be solved, you can refer to the problem-solving experience written by others, which can help you better understand the problem.

online platform

There are several online platforms that offer relevant exercises for CTF competitions, the following are some common ones:

4. Continuous learning

During the course of your practice, you may find that your knowledge is insufficient or that you need a deeper understanding of a particular topic. Therefore, continuous learning is required to expand one's knowledge and skills. Here are some learning resources:

CTF Community: The CTF community provides a platform to communicate with other CTF enthusiasts, where you can learn new skills, share experiences and expand your network.
Conferences and Lectures: Cybersecurity conferences and lectures provide opportunities for networking and learning. Such as DEF CON, Black Hat, etc.
Open Source Software: Open source software is a great way to learn and practice your CTF skills. You can study existing projects and try to modify them or create your own projects.

expand knowledge

The final step in learning CTF is to expand your knowledge. After mastering the basics and practical experience, you can go further to learn some advanced knowledge, such as:

Vulnerability analysis: Vulnerability analysis refers to the analysis of software, systems, etc., to find out the loopholes and exploit them. You need to learn the basic methods and tools of vulnerability analysis.
Binary security: Binary security refers to the analysis and reinforcement of binary code to prevent it from being exploited by attackers. You need to learn the fundamentals and tools of binary security.
Reverse engineering: Reverse engineering refers to the analysis of software and systems to find out the internal mechanisms and principles. You need to learn the basic methods and tools of reverse engineering.

You can learn these advanced knowledge by reading related books, online courses and blogs. Here are some resources you can use:

Books: "In-depth Understanding of Computer Systems", "Vulnerability War", etc.
Online courses: related courses on platforms such as Coursera and edX.
Blogs: Related articles on blogs like Reversing.ID, MalwareTech, etc.

CTF from 0 to 1 basic tutorial notes https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzkwNDI0MDc2Ng==&mid=2247483680&idx=1&sn=e1666c9a4a67f1222d90780a0ed619b8&chksm=c08b4a31f7fcc327deef435a3 0bfc550b33b5975f2bcc18dfb2ee20683da66025c68253a4c79#rd

5. Summary

Learning CTF takes time and effort, but it is also a very interesting process. In the process of your learning, you need to focus on practical exercises, and participating in CTF competitions can help you apply what you have learned to real situations. I hope the above learning plan and route can help you learn CTF from scratch