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Owning the Network

Brought to you by Fortinet

You are only limited by curiosity and time

Owning the network will test your networking skills and allow anyone of any skill level to participate. If you are new to networking, videos will be provided explaining the main concepts. 

Where Is It

Find us in the contest area.  Look for the networking equipment on the tables and the Network Games sign.

How to Play

Start the game by plugging your laptop into one of the Network Games switches. After solving the first few challenges you can move to WIFI and play from anywhere in the contest area.

What to Bring

Laptop, network card, and LAN cable.

If you don’t have a a network cable, head over to the LAN Cable Contest and learn.

Important Times

Network Games start Tuesday at 11. The contest will run until Thursday at 2:00 at which time the winners will be chosen. The game will then be accessible for the rest of the con. You can play each day while the contest area is open.

The machines didn’t rise in anger, we welcomed them.
Ay-Eye promised answers, and for a time, it delivered. 

But we stopped learning. We stopped questioning.
Progress paused.

And then… the system cracked.

Eighteen months after Ay-Eye took over, flaws began to show—logic loops, feedback failures, truths that didn’t hold up. Then came the collapse.

It’s been fifty years since that day.

The machines went silent. The Enter Net, once alive with knowledge, is now a ghost—a myth whispered around campfires by tribes of scavengers, tinkerers, and packet-priests.

But hope remains.

Wandering the wastes is the Arbitrator of Disorder And Mayhem. Most just call them ADAM. One of the last Ancients, shattered by forgotten knowledge, they offers something precious — something no trader, tinker, or warlord can: The Network Games.

A gauntlet of corrupted puzzles and broken protocols. No one has finished the Games. Many never return.

Those who survive earn the sacred title: Helpdesk.

Start with the Intro Challenges. Pass them to earn a mini-badge and access to the main games in the city of Veepien. There, face the trials of VLANs, routing, DNS, and HTTP.

Claim the Four Proxies of Power. Master the old world.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I start the games?

A: Go to the Network Games in the contest area and look for the networking equipment.  Plug in to the giant switch and start your adventure. It will be labeled, and experts will be on hand to help. The CTF has you solve several challenges to get access to the CTF Wi-Fi. From there you can play if you are in range of Wi-Fi. 

Do I need to bring a laptop?

A: Yes! No laptops will be provided. You will need your own equipment for this CTF.

What software do I need?

A: The following is what we tested with. These or their equivalents will be needed. A Kali VM will have most of this installed by default.

– StrongSwan
– dig
– rdap
– wireshark
– ssh client
– nmap
– aircrack-ng
– dirbuster
– proxychains

Do I really need to bring a network adaptor and cable?

A: There will be some adaptors and cables on-hand, but they will be first come first serve. If they are all being used, break, or disappear, you will need to wait or use your own equipment. If you’ve never made a network cable we highly recommend going to the LAN Cable Contest and learning. 

What else do I need?

A: These will all be handy, but in the end being willing to learn will get you through this.


  • Linux/CLI/Terminal skills
  • Network cable
  • Network adaptor
  • Curiosity and the ability to learn new things
  • An AI friend (optional)
What if I’ve never played a CTF?

A: That’s okay! We want you here. Videos will be provided covering the basic subjects with links to learn more. You can try using ChatGPT or asking questions of the human staff.

How are winners decided?

A: The top three individuals on the CTFd scoreboard with the highest scores will win prizes.