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<title>The Mount - Capture The Flag Competitions</title>

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  <h1 class="pageTitle">Capture The Flag Competitions</h1>
  <h2>Mount St. Mary's University</h2>
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  <p class="caption">Hands-on cybersecurity competitions that allow students to practice ethical hacking in a virtual environment</p>
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  <h3>About Capture The Flag (CTF)</h3>
  <p>
    The purpose of Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions is to provide experiential learning to students through the creation of cybersecurity challenges. Students compete for rank in national events while developing practical technical skills.
  </p>
  <p>
    These competitions are entirely virtual and allow students to work in a safe and legal environment while practicing ethical hacking techniques.
  </p>

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  <h3>Faculty Leaders and Organization</h3>
  <p>
    Capture The Flag competitions were originally organized by a consortium of three schools. Today, they are overseen by NCL, Inc., with Cyberskyline hosting the competitions and providing the technical platform.
  </p>
  <p>
    Faculty members support student participation and often incorporate these competitions into coursework, helping students gain real-world cybersecurity experience.
  </p>

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  <h3>Who Participates</h3>
  <p>
    More than 8,000 students from across the country participate in CTF competitions, including students from two-year colleges, four-year universities, and graduate programs.
  </p>

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  <h3>What Happens During Competitions</h3>
  <p>
    All CTF activities are completed virtually. Students practice in an online “Gym” where they solve challenges involving log analysis, password cracking, cryptography, OSINT topics, packet analysis, and many other cybersecurity areas.
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  <p>
    Competitions are typically structured in phases, including a week-long practice session, a three-day individual competition, and a final team competition.
  </p>

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  <h3>How to Join</h3>
  <p>
    Students are encouraged to sign up as early as their second year to gain experience and improve their skills over time. Early participation helps students understand how competitions work and prepares them for higher rankings.
  </p>
  <p>
    Registration is completed through the competition platform hosted by Cyberskyline, and participation may be required in certain cybersecurity courses.
  </p>

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  <h3>Meeting Dates and Schedule</h3>
  <p>
    There are no physical meeting dates because all competitions are held online. Events follow a structured schedule that includes practice sessions, individual competitions, and team-based challenges.
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  <p>
    This format allows students to participate from anywhere while gaining hands-on experience in cybersecurity.
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  <h3>Notable Facts</h3>
  <ul>
    <li>CTF competitions were originally structured like a sporting event with brackets.</li>
    <li>Students receive scoring reports that can be used in job interviews to demonstrate their skills.</li>
    <li>Participation is often required in cybersecurity courses.</li>
    <li>Practice resources and solution videos are available through Cyberskyline.</li>
  </ul>

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  <h3>Additional Information</h3>
  <p>
    Students who consistently practice tend to perform better in competitions. Some students have ranked highly on a national level through independent effort and preparation.
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  <p>
    Like any skill, success in CTF competitions comes from consistent practice and engagement with available resources.
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