FAQ

FAQ

A CTF, or Capture The Flag competition, is a cybersecurity competition where participants solve different challenges to uncover hidden ‘flags’ — secret strings of characters that prove they’ve cracked the problem. These challenges cover a wide range of cybersecurity topics, from web security and cryptography to reverse engineering and forensics. CTFs are designed to help you build real-world hacking skills in a safe, legal environment, making them a great way to learn, practice, and even compete with others in the cybersecurity community!

If you would like to participate in any of our activities, right now, we’ve got a Get In Touch section with a simple form. Just fill it out, and we’ll reach out as soon as our next beginner-friendly competition is on the horizon!

If you wish to contact us for any other reason, feel free to leave as an email at ctf.uvt@gmail.com

For a CTF, having some basic skills in areas like coding, web security, or understanding networks can be super helpful. Familiarity with topics like cryptography or Linux commands is a bonus too. But honestly, you don’t need to be an expert! A lot of people prefer to dive in head first and learn as they go, picking up new skills as they tackle each challenge. CTFs are all about problem-solving and creativity, so curiosity and persistence are your best tools. Plus, in our team, we also put a big emphasis on being able to cook!

We made a list for you. It doesn’t include ALL the possible jobs but covers the biggest and most popular ones:

Attack Roles

  • Network Penetration Tester: Identifies and exploits vulnerabilities in network infrastructure, requiring strong networking and systems knowledge.
  • Web Application Tester: Tests web applications for security flaws, with a focus on web vulnerabilities.
  • Cloud Penetration Tester: Focuses on cloud infrastructure security, discovering and exploiting cloud-specific weaknesses.
  • Exploit Developer: Crafts and deploys software exploits. This role is suited for those interested in reverse engineering and low-level code.
  • Vulnerability Researcher: Researches software vulnerabilities and creates Proofs of Concept (PoCs) for exploits, ideal for those with reverse engineering skills.
  • Red Team Operator: Conducts full-scope simulated attacks to test an organization’s defenses, requiring expertise in advanced attack tactics, social engineering, and lateral movement within networks.
  • Malware Developer: Develops specialized malware for penetration testing and red team operations, with a focus on evading detection, bypassing defenses, and gaining persistence on targeted systems.

Defense Roles

  • Security Administrator: Oversees security at an operational level across an organization, managing access controls, firewalls, and other protective measures.
  • Cyber Defense Analyst: Monitors network security, investigating alerts for suspicious activity and escalating incidents as needed.
  • Malware Analyst: Analyzes malware to determine its function, behavior, and potential impact, reverse engineering samples to understand their methods and mitigation strategies.
  • Digital Forensics Analyst: Investigates cybersecurity incidents by gathering and analyzing digital evidence, reconstructing attack timelines, and preparing reports for incident response.
  • Cyber Defense Incident Responder: Responds to cybersecurity incidents, containing and remediating threats, performing root cause analysis, and working in high-paced environments to mitigate damages.
  • Threat Hunter: Proactively searches for Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) across systems, staying updated on new threats and searching for malicious activity that may evade standard detection measures.

We get this question a lot, so we made a list with many open-source resources to help you start your journey:

Pwn

Web

Crypto

Reversing

Forensics