Rule_01
Eligibility
Participation is open to eligible PSU students. Each person may join one team only.
ACM/CyberTech CTF 3.0 // Section 04
Rules & FAQ_
Play hard, play fair
Every action stays inside the authorized competition environment. Organizers confirm eligibility, dates, prizes and disciplinary policy before registration closes.
Rule_02
Team size
Register in teams of 2–3 members. Solo participation is not allowed, and roster changes close before the competition begins.
Rule_03
Authorized scope
Only systems and challenges explicitly provided for the CTF are in scope. Do not scan or attack PSU, sponsor or third-party infrastructure.
Rule_04
Fair play
Do not share flags, solutions, credentials or challenge files with another team during the event.
Rule_05
Platform safety
Do not disrupt the scoreboard, infrastructure, other competitors or the event network. Denial-of-service activity is prohibited.
Rule_06
Flag submission
Submit flags only through your team account. Automated guessing or brute-forcing the submission endpoint is prohibited.
Rule_07
Tools & internet
Standard security tools and public reference material are allowed unless a challenge states otherwise. External human assistance is not allowed.
Rule_08
Conduct
Be respectful. Harassment, tampering and attempts to gain unfair access may lead to immediate removal.
Rule_09
Disputes
Contact an organizer privately with evidence. Organizer decisions and final score validation are final.// These rules are the launch-ready draft published on the competition site.
Query log
What is a CTF?
A capture-the-flag is a cybersecurity competition where participants solve technical
challenges to find secret strings called flags.
Do I need cybersecurity experience?
No. The workshops and beginner challenges are designed for first-time
participants, while advanced categories keep experienced players challenged.
Can I compete alone?
No. Every participant must join a registered team of two to three members.
What should I bring?
A laptop, charger, student ID and any adapters you need. Install instructions are
shared before the event.
Which operating system should I use?
Any modern OS is acceptable. A Linux virtual machine is recommended for many common
CTF tools.
Are online resources allowed?
Public documentation and search are generally allowed. Asking outside people for
solutions, or exchanging flags with other teams, is not.
How are ties resolved?
The default tie-breaker is the time the tied score was reached, subject to organizer
verification.
How did the previous edition perform?
CTF 2.0 hosted 11 teams across 16+ challenges. Competitors made 852 submissions,
captured 89 flags, and achieved a 10.4% overall solve rate. HZ placed first with 3,800 points.
Where will updates be announced?
Official dates, registration, room details and changes are posted through ACM PSU
channels and the competition website.