Your gateway into cybersecurity. A live workshop + mini CTF designed for absolute beginners.
All the key details about First Flag — where, when, and what to expect.
BHB Case Study
Lecture Theatre 1070
Thursday · 18:00 - 21:00
3 hours of learning + hacking
Register as a team of exactly 3. Solo? We'll help match you up!
3 PEP hours · Prizes · Snacks provided throughout the event
Never heard of it? That's exactly why you should come.
A Capture The Flag (CTF) competition is a type of cybersecurity challenge where participants solve a series of puzzles and hacking challenges to find hidden "flags" — secret strings of text — embedded inside vulnerable programs, websites, or files.
Think of it like an escape room, but for cybersecurity. Each puzzle tests a specific skill: Can you decode a hidden message? Find a flaw in a web app? Crack an encrypted password? Every flag you find earns your team points.
CTFs are used by security professionals, students, and hobbyists worldwide to learn real-world cybersecurity skills in a safe, legal, and competitive environment. First Flag is a beginner-friendly mini CTF — we'll walk you through everything before you compete.
CTF competitions span multiple cybersecurity disciplines. Here's what you might encounter.
Find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications — SQL injection, XSS, broken authentication, and more.
Decrypt ciphers, break encryption schemes, and crack hashed passwords using logic and mathematics.
Open-Source Intelligence — find hidden information using only publicly available data and clever searching.
Analyse files, images, and network traffic to uncover hidden data and reconstruct what happened.
Disassemble compiled programs to understand how they work and find the embedded flag inside.
Uncover messages hidden inside images, audio files, or other media using specialised tools.
Beyond the fun, First Flag gives you real, lasting value.
Gain hands-on experience with tools and techniques used by security professionals in the industry.
Earn 3 Professional Enrichment Points recognised by your institution for attending and participating.
The top-performing teams take home prizes. Compete, collaborate, and come out on top.
Meet like-minded students and passionate cybersecurity enthusiasts from across the university.
Everything is ethical and legal. Our workshop sets you up before the competition begins — no prior knowledge needed.
Fuel your brain — snacks are provided throughout the 3-hour event to keep you sharp and focused.
Registration is handled through the USU portal. Click below to register your team — teams of exactly 3.
You'll be taken to the USU registration page. Make sure all 3 team members are ready to sign up together.
Register Your Team →You will be redirected to the USU portal · Teams of 3 only