SecRETS
Security Riddles to Escape The Server Room
Where We Began
The SecRETS project was started as an unplugged virtual Escape The Breakout Room (ETBR) style adventure game base unplugged CTF in 2020 by Dr. Ankur Chatterjee and Meghyn Winslow, a former NKU CIT-Cyber student during the 2020 pandemic. ETBR (Escape The Breakout Room) was a unique, beginner’s level Capture The Flag (CTF) game with riddle-based challenges on various cybersecurity topics. The game is driven by an adventure story-based escape room format. Existing literature indicates that traditional CTFs pose challenges for beginners with no cybersecurity background.
The novelty of ETBR lies in its non-traditional design as an unplugged CTF with an adventure scenario-driven script, encouraging participants to solve cybersecurity-related riddles. ETBR targets beginner-level learners at the K-12 level, fostering teamwork, explorative research, cybersecurity problem-solving, and riddle-cracking skills. ETBR is unique because it combines escape room style, riddle-based challenges and story-driven elements for beginners.
There is limited work on escape room-style unplugged CTF games, and even fewer riddle-based, adventure story-driven CTF scripts for beginners, like K-12 students. Since 2020, we have used ETBR for engaging many high school participants as part of our virtual outreach workshops, remote cybersecurity introductory sessions, virtual summer camps, and distance learning events, aiming to introduce CTFs and basic cyber concepts in an exciting and user friendly, but competitive way.
A special thank you to all the contributors of ETBR, CRACK-ERS and SECRETS:
- Dr. Ankur Chattopadhyay
- Meg Winslow
- Allison Detmer
- Dexter Walters
- Benjamin Acuff
- Benjamin Molloy
- And all others who put in a helping hand.