KINGSLAYER CTF – HAVOC 5.0

Capture The Flag Cybersecurity Competition

OBJECTIVE

The objective of KINGSLAYER CTF – HAVOC 5.0 was to provide students with hands-on exposure to cybersecurity through a Capture The Flag (CTF) competition, fostering practical skills in areas such as Web Exploitation, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), Cryptography, and LLM security challenges. The event aimed to challenge participants, encourage teamwork, and build a strong cybersecurity culture within the institution.

EVENT OVERVIEW

The IEEE HKN – Nu Eta Chapter of Sri Sairam Engineering College organized KINGSLAYER CTF – HAVOC 5.0 on 16th April 2026 at Apple Hall, Sri Sairam Engineering College, Chennai from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The event was conducted in collaboration with the CSE (Cyber Security) departments of SEC & SIT and the WiCyS Sri Sairam Engineering College Chapter. A total of 170 students from various departments actively participated in the competition, showcasing technical knowledge, analytical thinking, and problem-solving abilities throughout the event.

EVENT FLOW

The event commenced with an inaugural session, followed by an insightful address delivered by the Chief Guest, Kasthuri Ganeshguru, who spoke about the significance of cybersecurity and ethical hacking in today's digital era.

Participants were then briefed on the competition rules, challenge categories, and platform access procedures before the official start of the CTF competition.

The competition featured multiple cybersecurity domains including:

1. Web Exploitation – Identifying and exploiting web vulnerabilities.
2. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) – Information gathering and analysis.
3. Cryptography – Solving encryption and decryption challenges.
4. LLM Security Challenges – Exploring vulnerabilities and security concepts in Large Language Models.

Participants worked individually and in teams to solve practical, challenge-based problems within the allocated competition duration. The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony recognizing the top-performing participants and teams.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

- Successfully organized a large-scale Capture The Flag (CTF) competition with active student participation.
- Conducted in collaboration with HKN, CSE (Cyber Security) departments of SEC & SIT, and WiCyS Sri Sairam Engineering College Chapter.
- Covered diverse cybersecurity domains including Web Exploitation, OSINT, Cryptography, and LLM Security.
- Featured an expert talk by Chief Guest Kasthuri Ganeshguru on the importance of cybersecurity.
- Designed practical challenges to enhance analytical thinking and technical problem-solving skills.
- Encouraged teamwork, collaboration, and strategic thinking among participants.
- Provided hands-on exposure to real-world cybersecurity scenarios and ethical hacking concepts.
- Maintained a structured and engaging event flow from inauguration to final evaluation.
- Witnessed enthusiastic participation and competitive spirit throughout the competition.
- Concluded with a prize distribution ceremony honoring top performers.
- Strengthened the cybersecurity culture within the institution.

EVENT OUTCOMES

- Successfully executed the chapter's first CTF event, creating a strong foundation for future editions.
- Enhanced practical cybersecurity awareness and technical skills among students.
- Strengthened collaboration between departments and student chapters within Sairam Institutions.
- Motivated participants to explore cybersecurity as a professional and academic domain.
- Reinforced the importance of student-led technical initiatives and experiential learning.

PARTICIPANTS’ FEEDBACK

Participants appreciated the practical and immersive nature of the event. Students found the challenges engaging, informative, and technically enriching. The real-world cybersecurity scenarios and exposure to multiple domains helped participants improve their analytical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while boosting their confidence in cybersecurity practices.

CHIEF GUEST

Kasthuri Ganeshguru – Cybersecurity Professional & Guest Speaker

VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED

Arokiya Swetha K – III Year IT
Aruni B – III Year IT
Abhirami S – III Year CSE (AIML)
Saravanan R K – III Year ECE
Alagappan A – III Year ECE
Nakul S – III Year EEE
Rohit – III Year AIDS
Muthuswetha M – III Year CSE
Harini M – III Year CSE
Prahaladhan – III Year CSE
Aathika N M – III Year IT
Keerthika S – III Year CSBS
Sanjay S – III Year M-Tech CSE

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 170 students from various departments actively participated in KINGSLAYER CTF – HAVOC 5.0. Participants demonstrated strong technical skills, enthusiasm, and teamwork while solving challenges across multiple cybersecurity domains, contributing to a collaborative and competitive learning environment.

CONCLUSION

KINGSLAYER CTF – HAVOC 5.0 was a highly successful and impactful event that effectively achieved its objective of providing practical exposure to cybersecurity. The competition enabled participants to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges, thereby enhancing technical competence, analytical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

The event fostered teamwork, collaboration, and strategic thinking while creating awareness about the growing importance of cybersecurity in the digital world. The insightful session by the Chief Guest further enriched the learning experience and inspired participants to explore advanced cybersecurity domains.

Overall, the event served as a valuable platform for skill development, ethical hacking awareness, and strengthening the cybersecurity culture within the institution, marking a successful collaboration between HKN, the CSE (Cyber Security) departments of SEC & SIT, and the WiCyS Sri Sairam Engineering College Chapter.