Capture the Flag or Capture the Flag is a learning and assessment opportunity in the field of cybersecurity.
A CTF (Capture the Flag) is a competition designed to test participants’ skills in various areas of cybersecurity and secure telecommunications. These competitions, which have become popular in both educational and professional settings, serve as learning and assessment tools.
The term “CTF” comes from the traditional field game Capture de Flag, in the context of cybersecurity it is a perfect opportunity to spot new talent in this field.
Most common CTF types
This game presents different modalities with a different approach and objective. We can distinguish different CTFs:
- Jeopardy: in this case, participants are given a list of challenges that include different categories such as cryptography, forensics, exploitation or programming, among others. Solving these challenges will earn them points.
- Attack and defense: teams must protect their systems while trying to compromise the systems of opposing teams. This CTF mode simulates a real network environment where one must secure one’s own infrastructure and find vulnerabilities in the opponent’s infrastructure.
- Mixed: Combines elements of the two previous types, presenting both individual challenges and attack and defense tasks
Who can participate in a CTF?
To participate in a CTF, it is necessary to be familiar with a wide variety of cybersecurity tools and techniques. Whether for students, working professionals or cybersecurity enthusiasts, CTFs provide a platform to continuously improve and keep abreast of the latest techniques and threats in the field of cybersecurity.
*This initiative is carried out within the framework of the funds of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed by the European Union (Next Generation), the project of the Government of Spain that outlines the roadmap for the modernization of the Spanish economy, the recovery of economic growth and job creation, for the solid, inclusive and resilient economic reconstruction after the COVID19 crisis, and to respond to the challenges of the next decade.
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