SaikoCTF

Spend up to 60 minutes testing your skills in our unique, intense SaikoCTF. SaikoCTF challenges are web app and password cracking challenges. Participants will work in a Kali Linux virtual machine (VM) without Internet access. Pen-testing tools, documentation, and man pages are provided as part of the Kali Linux VM so all participants can access the same tools and information. Your task is to solve as many challenges as possible in the fastest time to win the top prize.

We are a team of researchers studying the psychology of novel cyber defenses. Our state-of-the-art research methods seek to understand better how well cyber defenses work. Synthesized results will eventually be shared in the academic literature on cybersecurity. We will collect data, including 1) questionnaires on demographics, decision-making styles, and personality. 2) physiological data (brain waves, heart rate, respiration rate, and changes in sweat) to track your cognitive load, stress, and emotional state; and 3) your game-time strategy, choices, and performance while playing the CTF.

Your privacy is our utmost priority. We will not collect any personally identifiable information (PII), such as your name, email, or social media or hacker handles. Instead, you will be randomly assigned a unique SaikoCTF handle for use during the CTF to protect your identity while allowing you to claim bragging rights and stand out amongst your peers. All data will be stored on our dedicated server, which is physically secured in the test area and not connected to the Internet.

As a participant, you will wear a VIVE virtual reality (VR) headset and physiological sensors to participate in our CTF challenge. While sitting at a table and using a physical keyboard and trackpad mapped to the VR, you will seek out and exploit security vulnerabilities in systems, services, and applications in a simulated network. Hunt for and capture specified flags as fast as possible in the time available. The entire session will take about 2.5 hours.