Teams
Teams must have a minimum of two students and a maximum of four students. Teams must have a faculty sponsor. If your school does not have a faculty sponsor, please email [email protected].
Teams can be made up of students from different schools as long as all students and faculty sponsors agree.
Internet Access & Code Generation
This competition is open-internet. You may use the internet for looking up a certain tools documentation or researching attack methods. You may not use interactive online services such as chat rooms or forums to communicate with anyone during the competition. You may not communicate with anyone outside of your team.
The challenges are written specifically for the competition, so looking up the challenges will not be useful. We find teams be the most successful when they focus on the challenges and research tools or possible attack methods as needed.
Third party code generation is not allowed. Any team that uses any AI/LLMs will be immediately disqualified and their school will be ineligible from participating in HSOreCTF in future years. We reserve the right to ask teams to explain the solution in detail to judges and revoke credit for solutions if the judges feel the team does not provide an adequate explanation.
Bringing Your Own Technology
In-person teams will be provided a single computer for the competition. Teams may not use more than one Mines-provided computer. Teams are allowed to bring and use additional computers if they wish.
Using the computer provided is often an effective strategy as it allows team members to collaborate on solutions rather than having to work on their own.
In-Person Prizes
In-person teams can win prizes by placing in the top three. We also may award prizes for fun & creative solutions or quick completion of problems.
- Prize for each person in the first place team
- Prize for each person in the second place team
- Prize for each person in the third place team
Rules and prizes are subject to change.