Cicada

Cicada: The Ultimate Offline Cybersecurity Hunt: "Hello. We are looking for highly intelligent individuals. To find them, we have devised a test." Inspired by the infamous Cicada 3301 internet mystery, Cicada is an intense, offline cybersecurity scavenger hunt. This isn't your standard desk-bound CTF (Capture The Flag). Participants will need to combine digital hacking skills with physical real-world exploration. Decode ciphers, uncover hidden steganographic messages, utilize OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence), and exploit vulnerabilities to find the hidden "flags." Each solved challenge reveals the location or password for the next clue in the trail. Do you have what it takes to reach the end? Guidelines: Eligibility: Open to all. Format: An offline, sequential challenge hunt. Participants must solve digital cybersecurity puzzles to uncover the physical or network location of the next clue on the campus/venue. Number of Questions / Problem Statements: A sequential trail of interconnected challenges (e.g., 7 to 10 progressive stages). You cannot skip a stage; each answer is the key to the next puzzle. Duration of the Rounds: A single, continuous offline round lasting almost 8 hours (subject to change) Rules: Team Size: You can participate individually or in a team of up to 3 members. The Trail: The event is strictly sequential. Teams must crack the current clue to unlock the digital payload or physical coordinates of the next challenge. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Participants must bring their own laptops, chargers, and any necessary mobile hotspots. Pre-installing tools like Kali Linux, Wireshark, or decoding software is highly encouraged. Physical Boundaries: All physical clues are hidden within the designated venue/campus boundaries. Teams must not trespass into restricted areas or leave the premises during the hunt. No Destructive Hacking: Participants are strictly prohibited from performing Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, physical damage to property, or attempting to hack the host's core infrastructure. You are only permitted to attack the designated challenge servers/files. Fair Play & Secrecy: Sabotaging other teams, stealing physical clues, or sharing answers will result in immediate disqualification. Once you find a physical clue, leave it exactly as you found it for the next team. Winning Criteria: The first team to successfully solve the final puzzle and present the ultimate "Flag" to the organizers wins. If no team finishes within the time limit, the team that has progressed the furthest wins.