Introduction to CTF [Lect. 1a: Competitive Cybersecurity 101]

This presentation serves as the foundational module for "Competitive Cybersecurity 101," a specialized curriculum designed to equip students at an international school in Singapore, with the skills necessary to compete in the National Cybersecurity Olympiad (NCO) and the International Cybersecurity Olympiad (ICO).

As the cybersecurity landscape rapidly evolves—particularly with the integration of AI into both offensive and defensive operations—grassroots, hands-on education is more critical than ever. This deck outlines the strategic pathway from beginner to competitor, defining the core mechanics of Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions. It introduces participants to beginner-friendly, gamified learning environments like picoCTF, while establishing a strict, non-negotiable framework for ethical hacking and responsible disclosure in accordance with the Computer Misuse Act.

Transcript

1. Competitive Cybersecurity 101 Introduction to CTF & Cybersecurity Kannan Murugapandian July 10, 2026 Kannan Murugapandian Competitive Cybersecurity 101 July 10, 2026 1/8
2. Why is Cybersecurity Important? ”We are in the most dangerous period, the transition when attackers might gain a significant advantage as the technology ecosystem digests the impact of AI. We have already seen evidence of what smart cybersecurity crews can do when leveraging AI and witnessed in the wild novel exploit kits written with AI assistance. Falling behind is not an option.” – Jim Zemlin, CEO of the Linux Foundation Kannan Murugapandian Competitive Cybersecurity 101 July 10, 2026 2/8
3. Pathway to the National Cybersecurity Olympiad (NCO) The Objective: This course is specifically designed to build the foundational skills required for the National Cybersecurity Olympiad (NCO). The Pipeline: NCO serves as the national selection round to identify top talent for the International Cybersecurity Olympiad (ICO). Competition Pillars: The topics we cover (Python, Cryptography, Forensics, Web Exploitation) directly mirror the exact categories tested in the NCO. Our Goal: To take you from zero knowledge to being fully equipped to compete at the national and international levels. Kannan Murugapandian Competitive Cybersecurity 101 July 10, 2026 3/8
4. What is a CTF? Capture The Flag (CTF): A cybersecurity competition where participants solve security puzzles. The Goal: Find a hidden string of text known as the ”flag” (usually formatted as flag{...}). Common Categories: Cryptography, Web Exploitation, Forensics Reverse Engineering, Binary Exploitation Kannan Murugapandian Competitive Cybersecurity 101 July 10, 2026 4/8
5. Introduction to picoCTF A free, beginner-friendly CTF platform created by Carnegie Mellon University. Features gamified challenges that grow in difficulty. Excellent for building fundamental skills in a safe, legal environment. We will be using picoCTF for our hands-on practice! Kannan Murugapandian Competitive Cybersecurity 101 July 10, 2026 5/8
6. Course Schedule Overview Jul 10: Intro to CTFs & Python Foundations Jul 17: Python for CTF Scripting Jul 24 & 31: Cryptography (Classical to Post-Quantum) Aug 07 & 14: Forensics (Files, Network, Memory) Aug 21 & 28: Web Exploitation & Mini CTF Kannan Murugapandian Competitive Cybersecurity 101 July 10, 2026 6/8
7. Course Materials & Practice All materials used in this course. Questions to practice and mini-challenges. kannan.bearblog.dev/ctf-dps/ Kannan Murugapandian Competitive Cybersecurity 101 July 10, 2026 7/8
8. Disclaimer & Ethical Rules Strictly for Educational Purposes All knowledge and tools must only be applied in environments where you have explicit permission. Do not test on systems you do not personally own or lack authorization to assess. Unauthorized access constitutes a criminal offense under the Computer Misuse Act. Kannan Murugapandian Competitive Cybersecurity 101 July 10, 2026 8/8