picoCTF

Carnegie Mellon picoCTF is a free, online cybersecurity competition and learning platform created by security experts and educators at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).

It’s designed mainly for middle school, high school, and early college students, but anyone can participate to learn cybersecurity fundamentals. The competition and practice challenges simulate real-world cybersecurity problems in a game-like “capture the flag” (CTF) format.

Here’s how it works:

• 🏴 CTF Format: Participants solve security-related puzzles and hacking challenges to “capture flags” (hidden strings of text).

• 🎮 Game-like Platform: Challenges are presented as part of a storyline, often themed like a computer hacking adventure.

• 🔐 Topics Covered: Cryptography, web exploitation, reverse engineering, binary exploitation, forensics, and general hacking techniques.

• 👥 Audience: Beginners to intermediate learners, but also fun for advanced players.

• 🏆 Annual Competition: picoCTF runs an official online competition each year (usually in spring), attracting tens of thousands of participants worldwide.

• 📚 Practice Mode: Even outside the competition, their website offers permanent practice challenges so you can train anytime.

• 👉 Website: https://picoctf.org