Scenario

PicoSec, the computer security consulting company, has been advancing leaps and bounds ahead of the all it competition. They are getting constant news coverage for their advancements in root kit detection and intrusion counter-measures. The have slandered leading security researchers; claiming their research was pointless. Even put together challenges to bolster their products. By all accounts they are the new up and comer in the security field.

They are not.

PicoSec, at best, is a marketing company. There products are repackaged tools developed by the open source community. Their research papers are mash-ups of other security research. Borderline plagiarism. Their public attacks on security researchers is debunking the work on young, high-profile research. Borderline slander. They are a model for everything wrong with the security industry. Something needs to be done. Lucky for us PicoSec has presented an opportunity with their latest press release.

Objective

Root Wars is a team based contest for hackers by hackers. Taken place over the duration of a hacker con. The winning team is the team with the highest score. Points are awarded for various tasks. The primary mechanism for scoring points is to gain root on a target system, place a flag, and maintain it for as long as possible. The object is to test the attack skills of the participants against a set of servers.

Tentative Event Schedule

Root Wars 1 will take place during the PhreakNIC 0x0b conference. That dates for the conference are October 19th - 21st. A more detailed schedule will be made available as the conference gets closer.

Friday 19th October 2007
Immediately Following Kick-Off Session	Room opens for team setup
Approx 1435hrs	Contest begins
Saturday 20nd October 2007
1930hrs	Contest ends
2000hrs	Presentation in Cumberland Room

Participation

Root Wars is a team event (teams of one are possible). All team members must be registered attendees of the conference. The number of teams is limited, teams will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. Teams can register online or by contacting event staff on site.