Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This Capture the Flag (CTF) is a fun and educational cybersecurity competition for students from Canadian post-secondary institutions. Teams solve hands-on challenges in cryptography, open-source intelligence, reverse engineering, digital forensics, and more. Find flags, earn points, and learn real-world skills in a fun, safe environment!

You will need at least some basic knowledge of Linux, networking, cryptography, and Docker usage.

Bring a laptop with Linux and Windows OS. Install any tools that may help you in the challenge. You will also need to install Discord and Zoom to access the support staff and submit a support ticket.

The challenges in the event are divided into four difficulty levels:

• Easy
• Medium
• Hard
• Expert

The more difficult the challenge, the higher the points awarded. Participants can progress at their own pace. Total accumulated points will determine ranking and success.

Yes. The event runs from 9:00 AM MT to 4:00 PM MT on Saturday, January 17, 2026. There are no individual time limits for challenges, but everything must be completed within this window.

Teams must consist of 2 to 4 students from the same Canadian post-secondary institution.

Some challenges include hints. Using a hint will deduct 10% of that challenge’s total points (e.g., 10 points from a 100-point challenge).

Participants are permitted to use any tools necessary to solve the challenges; however, any attempts to disrupt, exploit, or interfere with the competition platform or underlying infrastructure are strictly prohibited.

Click the "Challenges" tab in the top navigation bar. Choose a category, pick a challenge, and begin!

Unless otherwise specified, flags look like this:

nccctf{[a-zA-Z0-9\-_=+[\]\\|;:'",<.>\/?!@#$%^&*()]+}

• Manually type or carefully paste the flag
• Double-check spelling, capitalization, and format
• Flags are case-sensitive
• Ensure there are no extra spaces
• Still stuck? Open a support ticket in the official NCC CTF Discord server

Make sure the flag is formatted correctly. Try refreshing or logging out and back in. If the issue persists, submit a support ticket in official NCC CTF Discord server.

• Refresh the page or try another browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended)
• Check your internet connection
• If the issue continues, open a support ticket in official NCC CTF Discord server

This server is your main support and communication hub throughout the competition. Use it to:

• Interact with other teams and ask organizers questions
• Receive live updates and announcements
• Submit a ticket in from the #ticket-help channel for technical or challenge-related issues

⚠️ If you are unable to see certain channels, please ensure that the “Show All Channels” option is enabled in your Discord server settings.

Open a ticket in the #ticket-help channel on the official NCC CTF Discord server. If you are attending in person, ask one of the organizers directly.

You can use tickets to:

• Request hints (at organizers’ discretion)
• Report bugs or broken challenges
• Ask clarifying questions

Navigate to the #ticket-help channel under the “Ticket Support” section in the official NCC CTF Discord. Click the “Create Ticket” button. This will open a private ticket channel that only you and staff can see. Please write a detailed message describing your question or issue. A staff member will respond shortly.

Each team will receive an invite to the official NCC CTF Discord server. If you did not receive an invite, or if the link is not working, please contact Jamie Wong (jamie.wong@enfocom.com) as soon as possible.

Each challenge has a point value. Your score is the total of all the flags your team captures. The scoreboard updates in real time.

Yes! Prizes are awarded to the top three post-secondary teams. Participants also gain valuable hands-on experience and recognition for their achievements.

Winners are determined based on the scoring system within the CTFd platform and the total number of points earned. In the event of a tie, the team that reached the final score first will be considered the winner. Final decisions on winners and prize eligibility are at the sole discretion of the NCC as host. Announced winners are final.

Winners will be announced during the Zoom closing session at 4:01 PM.