The Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory (MAGIC) sponsors student programming to enhance workforce development for technology companies, particularly in the cybersecurity industry. MAGIC events are positioned as entry-level beginner events to appeal to the widest possible population of students.
The Capture the Flag (CTF) events are based on content originally developed by the cybersecurity professionals at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab and further extended and modified by MAGIC volunteers. The content consists of sets of puzzles that require using various hacking tools, coding skills, and just plain puzzle solving to find the answers, which are short strings of code called “flags”. Once located, the flags are entered into a scoreboard, which keeps a tally for all teams. The team with the most points at the end of the timed competition wins.
flag{this_is_a_10_pt_flag}
MAGIC simultaneously holds events in multiple host locations using a cloud-based software platform. Recent events featured participants in host locations around the world~ in Maryland, North Carolina, Idaho, Ecuador, and Estonia, with live streaming on YouTube, Facebook updates, Instagram stories, and live Tweets during the competition. This is a free event for participants. Host locations pay a one-time licensing fee per event and location, depending on number of teams.
CTF HOST LOCATIONS
As we transition to a hybrid environment to preserve participant safety and maintain social distancing, we have made a few changes to our popular hosted Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Competition format. Preserving the CTF cyber experience, we have moved our competition to an online platform. This allows teams to compete from literally anywhere. Participants don’t even need to be in the same physical location to compete as a team during the competition. All students require is access to an internet connection and a computer with a web browser.
This new online flexibility allows Host Locations to decide whether their individual location will host teams on site or allow registered teams to compete from other locations.
My location/organization will be open to host in person teams, what do I need to do?
If your organization will be hosting an in person CTF event, It is the responsibility of the organization to follow all state and regional mandated safety guidelines for gathering groups.
Use our Host Locations registration link and select the appropriate team licensing for your location. You can pay online with a credit card, or select the correct “invoice me later” option and we will send you an invoice. All invoices are due on receipt. It’s that easy. You can download our Host Locations Information Packet for detailed information about running the event from your location.
We can’t host teams at this time, but we are interested in host sponsoring some teams. What do we need to do?
Can’t host the teams physically? No Problem. If you still want to provide a CTF experience opportunity for your area, you can “Host Sponsor” teams to compete virtually from any location. The process is the same as the in person event, with the same licensing fees. However, when teams register, your location/organization will be listed as a virtual location. As teams register, your location name will appear as an affiliation/sponsor on our competition scoreboard. Although there is no in person interaction, you are still providing area participants with the experience.
The registration process is the same, no matter which type of event you plan to host.
Host Location Licensing Fees
MAGIC has restructured our licensing fee to allow for more flexibility in the number of teams locations pay for. Select the option that is right for you.
Please contact us at info@magicinc.org for additional pricing over 10 teams.
What is included in the Licensing fee?
With your Host Location fee, you will receive:
- marketing materials to help promote the event
- Free t-shirt for each registered participant. If you will hold the event in person, we will ship shirts to the participating location. If the teams compete remotely, we handle the distribution and shipping.
- Free T-shirt for each team you sponsor that can be distributed to organizers and volunteers.
- Your name and/or logo on the T-shirts
- Your name and logo on our social media when promoting the event.
- A promotional video spot for your organization on our streaming of the event. The organization can provide a short video to be broadcast during our event. (3 minutes max)
Registration deadline is March 22, 2021