Google invites applications for Capture The Flag Competition 2023. Google organizes this virtual event; The applications window is open now!

About Capture The Flag

Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions, in the cybersecurity sense, are not related to playing outdoor running or traditional computer games. Instead, they comprise computer security puzzles or challenges involving reverse engineering, memory corruption, cryptography, web technologies, and more. When players solve them, they get a “flag,” a secret string that can be exchanged for points. The more points a team earns, the higher it moves in rank.

Capture The Flag Competition by Google

Competition Details

  • In the past, Google ran the competition in two stages: an online 48-hour-long first-stage competition and an additional speed-running stage for the best 16 teams.
  • The first stage of the competition had Rs. 25.68 Lakhs / $31,337 USD in prizes.
  • The best three teams of the first stage won Rs. 10.93 Lakhs / $13,337 USD for the first place, Rs. 6 Lakhs / $7,331 USD for the second place, and Rs 2.56 Lakhs / USD $3,133.7 USD for the third place.
  • In addition to the grand prizes, some of the best and most creative write-ups we received during the qualifying round were also rewarded.
  • The second stage consisted of a series of problems that participants had to solve in a limited time.
  • The additional prizes for the top four teams of the speedrunning stage were 3,000, 2,000, 1,000, and 500 USD.
  • At Google, we believe that CTFs are a good way for security pros to get better at what they do and a fun way to get into the cybersecurity field.
  • That’s why, along with the main Google CTF competition, there will be some beginner tasks for folks wanting to get started.
  • In addition, the speed-running competition will be recorded, narrated, and presented online.

How to Apply?

Interested candidates can apply through this link.

FAQs

Where do I register?

Click here to join the group.

Of course! There are countless write-ups on challenges on the CTF scene — for example, here are some from the Google CTF 2022 Qualification round created by the contestants

Reversing
Web
Crypto
Pwn
CTF

Can I play after the competition is over?

Yes! The challenges will stay up after the competition is over.

How does it work?

Once the CTF has started, navigate to the scoreboard (the website will be communicated beforehand)
Create a team
Invite others to your team (if you like)
Solve the challenges presented in the various categories (e.g. Pwnables, Web, Reversing, Cryptography, Hardware, Sandbox)
At the end of each challenge, a flag (text token) usually looks like this — CTF{SomeTextHere} — enter it next to the challenge on the Google CTF website to score points!

How can I get a team for the Google CTF?

If you don’t have a team, try to get a friend, classmate, or colleague to play and learn with you.
We have listed some places where you can start learning below.
You can also play alone or consider joining an existing CTF team. If you want to join an existing local CTF team, click here to see a list of the top CTF teams and their country of origin (if any).
Note that not all teams are looking for new members.
One of the CTF teams that are always looking for new members is the OpenToAll team.

How can I prepare for this competition?

In previous years, we ran a “Beginners Quest” that was meant to be an introduction to CTFs. You can find them here:
Google CTF 2019 Beginners Quest, Solutions
Google CTF 2018 Beginners Quest, Solutions

If you want even more, a long list of sites on WeCall offers security-related war games. You can also find the write-ups of previous years’ Google CTFs on CTFtime.org (e.g., 2019 quals).

Click here to view the official notification of the Capture The Flag Competition by Google.

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