Hackers Challenge · SAINTCON 26

Brought to you by rigel and friends

The premiere challenge of SAINTCON #

A multi-day, Jeopardy-style game that crowns the conference champion. Solve challenges, submit flags, earn points.

Puzzle categories span:

Web security
Forensics
Reverse engineering
Cryptography
Hardware
OSINT

Find us on the third floor of the conference center. Bring your laptop, your hacking tools, and some energy. A few of these are hard.

How it works #

Stage 1: Online qualifier

Tue noon to Fri 6:00 AM

A Jeopardy board with dynamic scoring: challenges start at 1000 points and lose value as more players solve them, so early solves are worth more.

The top 4 on the combined board advance, plus the top minimal-AI player.

Stage 2: In-person final

Fri 8:30 to 10:30 AM

Up to 5 contestants, new puzzles, every challenge worth the same.

No AI tools allowed. The winner takes the Black Badge.

Play your way, just say so #

AI can one-shot a lot of CTF challenges these days, and we cannot police that across an online field. So instead of banning it, we ask you to self-identify at registration.

Minimal-AI

You solved it yourself. Search engines, docs, and old writeups are fair game. AI did not touch the analysis or the exploit.

Maxi-AI

AI helped, in any way, at any point.

Three scoreboards track this live: combined, minimal-AI, and maxi-AI. Nothing is hidden.

Declaring minimal-AI is a claim you may need to back with a writeup if you are in contention for the one reserved final seat. When in doubt, declare maxi.

Rules #

Do not brute-force the scoring servers.
Do not steal flags. Sharing hints is fine, sharing flags is not.
Do not sabotage challenges for other players.
Social-engineering other players is fair game.
Register with your SAINTCON email and bring a laptop.
HC staff can disqualify players or adjust scores for violations.

Who should play #

Everyone. Newcomers, seasoned CTF veterans, and groups working together are all welcome. The board has something for every skill level.

Prize #

The overall winner receives a Black Badge: free Basic registration to all SAINTCON official public events.