Merit Network Inc., in partnership with the MEDC and the Michigan Cyber Hubs is conducting a statewide Capture The Flag (CTF) event! This unique opportunity allows the entire state to compete against each other in a virtual non-traditional learning environment.
Beginners and experts alike can use open-source tools to fire off live attacks on networked systems in real-time. As a self-paced exercise, the CTF is a means to assess individual skills across a broad range of systems. Highest scores in both the intermediate and advanced levels win a prize!
Registration is free, and the only requirement to participate in the CTF is an interest in cybersecurity and a familiarity with computers.
JUNE 17, 2021
9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. EDT
Capture the Flag is a self paced, gamified learning tool, developed by carving out core servers and network infrastructure inside Merit’s virtual Cyber city, Alphaville. Participants traverse through challenges in Alphaville to find flags and input them into the scoring system. Flags have various points based on difficulty, and participant progress of the challenges are tracked on a viewable scoreboard throughout the day.
Be the first to play in our updated Capture the Flag environment
To improve and standardize the look and feel of our environment, the Cyber Range has refactored the Scoring and Hint engine for our Capture the Flag (CTF) product. The engine has been completely overhauled using the latest technology stack and is built with user experience and maintainability in mind.
New Content
- Digital Forensic – Pick apart a hard drive image
- Network Forensics – Examine network traffic
- GIT 101 – Explore Alphaville’s GitHub repository
How Do I Play?
Participants traverse through challenges in the game environment using penetration testing and forensic skills to find flags and earn points. You will use the open source tools available on the Kali Linux Virtual Machine to complete the challenges. Each challenge track is built around a specific security skillset, such as website vulnerability exploitation, SQL injection, and cracking weak passwords.
Closer to the event, our team will share login credentials and instructions for navigating the CTF platform. We will have a slack channel available at all times for resolving technical questions or troubleshooting. Our team will not be providing answers!
The most successful CTF participants have basic computer skills, familiarity with Linux command line, understanding of IP addressing and DNS, familiarity with basic security concepts, problem solving skills, and resourcefulness. Participants will not necessarily know all the solutions to problems encountered in the CTF and may require research outside of the game.
Pinckney Cyber Training Institute
Wayne State University
West Michigan Center For Arts & Technology
Northern Michigan University
University of Michigan
About Merit Network:
Merit Network, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained on the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking and IT solutions to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.
For more information: www.merit.edu
About the Michigan Cyber Range (MCR):
The Michigan Cyber Range (MCR) provides hands-on cybersecurity training for organizations that need to improve their cybersecurity skill sets in a real-world environment. Many of the MCR exercises are conducted as half- or full-day live events facilitated by Merit staff and using our Alphaville virtual city. Exercises include:
- Capture The Flag (CTF)
- Cyber Sentinel (Incident Response)
- Paintball (Red/Blue Team vs. Red/Blue Team, also known as a Purple Event)
- Tabletop Exercises
- High School Cyber Challenge (combination of a 4 day quiz plus a 1 day CTF)