TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE HACK THE YULETIDE CTF CHALLENGE 2024 Introduction Welcome to the Hack the Yuletide Capture The Flag (CTF) Challenge, organized to promote cybersecurity awareness, education, and skills development within the global community. This competition is open to individuals and teams, and participants stand a chance to win a cash prize of ₦100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira). These Terms and Conditions govern participation in the challenge, and by registering or participating, all entrants acknowledge and agree to abide by these rules. Eligibility Participation is open to all individuals worldwide. Participants must provide accurate information during registration, including full name, email address, and country of residence. Participants must be at least years old. Those under must obtain written consent from a parent or guardian before registering. Proof of consent may be required. Employees, contractors, or associates of the organizing body and their immediate families are not eligible to win but may participate for educational purposes. The CTF Challenge begins at 00:00 (GMT+) on December 3 , 2024, and concludes at 00:00 (GMT+) on January 1, 2025. Submissions received after the challenge ends will not be considered, regardless of technical issues or delays. Registration and Participation Participants must register through the official CTF platform by providing all required details. Only one account is allowed per participant. Multiple accounts or fraudulent registrations will lead to immediate disqualification. While collaboration among participants is permitted, the account holder submitting the solutions will be solely recognized as the official participant. The account holder bears responsibility for ensuring that their submission complies with all requirements. Participants are expected to act ethically and refrain from any activity that compromises the integrity of the challenge, such as sharing answers publicly or engaging in malicious actions against the platform. Code of Conduct Participants are expected to maintain a respectful and professional attitude throughout the competition, including interactions on forums, chat platforms, and with other participants. Harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior will result in immediate disqualification. Clarifications and Updates The organizers reserve the right to update or clarify these Terms and Conditions at any time during the challenge period. Participants will be notified of any significant changes via email or the official platform. Continued participation after such updates constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. Communication Official communications regarding the challenge, including announcements, updates, and results, will be made through the designated CTF platform and email. Participants are responsible for checking the platform and their emails regularly during the challenge. Fair Play Policy To ensure a fair and competitive environment, participants must adhere to the following: Do not intentionally exploit bugs or vulnerabilities in the CTF platform. Report any platform issues or bugs to the organizers immediately. Participants found exploiting any vulnerabilities will be banned and reported to relevant cybersecurity communities or authorities if necessary. Rules The CTF consists of a variety of cybersecurity challenges, including but not limited to cryptography, reverse engineering, web security, and forensics. Participants are required to solve challenges and submit their solutions on the official platform within the competition timeframe. The use of external resources, tools, and research is allowed, provided solutions are independently developed and adhere to the competition's ethical guidelines. Participants must not engage in: Hacking or exploiting the CTF platform. Sharing answers in public forums during the competition. Using automated tools to brute-force answers. Violations of these rules will lead to immediate disqualification. The participant with the highest score at the end of the challenge period will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the participant who submitted the winning solutions first will be declared the winner. Submission times are recorded automatically by the platform. The winner will be announced within 7 days after the competition ends. The prize for the Hack the Yuletide CTF Challenge is ₦100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) or its equivalent in the winner's local currency. To claim the prize, the winner must submit a step-by-step recorded video that demonstrates how they solved all the challenges they completed during the competition. The video must meet the following requirements: Include clear explanations of the thought process, tools, and methods used. Be of high quality, both visually and audibly. Be submitted within 7 days of being declared the winner. The video will be reviewed by the organizers to ensure that solutions align with acceptable methodologies and ethical guidelines. Failure to submit a valid video, provide accurate explanations, or meet the submission deadline will result in forfeiture of the prize. The prize will then be awarded to the next eligible participant. The cash prize will be transferred to the winner via a mutually agreed-upon payment method after verification is complete. Intellectual Property and Usage By participating in the challenge, participants retain ownership of their solutions but grant the organizers a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, publish, and distribute their solutions and videos for educational and promotional purposes. The winner’s video may be published on the organizer’s platforms to inspire and educate the cybersecurity community. Full credit will be given to the creator. ** Privacy and Data Protection** The personal information provided during registration will be used solely for the administration of the challenge and will not be shared with third parties without consent. Participants have the right to access, modify, or delete their data by contacting the organizers at info@cysec.ng. ** Disqualification and Termination** The organizers reserve the right to disqualify any participant who violates these Terms and Conditions or engages in unethical behavior. The organizers may cancel, modify, or suspend the challenge if unforeseen circumstances arise, including but not limited to technical issues or acts of fraud. Liability The organizers are not responsible for: Any technical failures, errors, or interruptions during the challenge. Loss, damage, or theft of personal data or submissions. Participants agree to release the organizers from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from their participation in the challenge. Appeal Process Participants who believe they were unfairly disqualified or have disputes about scores may file an appeal within 48 hours of the incident. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the designated email address, providing all relevant details and evidence. The organizers will review and respond to appeals within 5 business days, and their decision will be final. Tax Obligations Winners are responsible for any applicable taxes or fees on the prize according to their local laws and regulations. The organizers will not provide tax advice but can supply documentation upon request to facilitate compliance with local laws. Technical Support Participants will have access to technical support for issues related to the CTF platform during the competition. Support inquiries should be directed to info@cysec.ng. Responses will be provided within a reasonable timeframe. Withdrawal Participants may withdraw from the challenge at any time by notifying the organizers via email. Withdrawn participants will not be eligible for prizes or further participation. Force Majeure The organizers shall not be held liable for failure or delay in performing their obligations under these Terms and Conditions due to events beyond their reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, cyberattacks, technical failures, or government actions. General Conditions The organizers’ decisions regarding all aspects of the challenge are final and binding. These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Nigeria. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Nigeria. Contact Information For inquiries, please contact the organizers at: Email: info@cysec.ng Phone: +234 703 277 4429 Acknowledgment By registering or participating in the Hack the Yuletide CTF Challenge, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.