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Holiday Hack Challenge 2024: Snow-maggedon
Whether you're a first-time player or a seasoned participant, this year’s Holiday Hack brings exciting new features you won’t want to miss! We’ve introduced a new dynamic for this year: challenges will be gradually released* in sync with the story, keeping the experience fresh and immersive. See challenges release dates and new features included.
- November 7........Prologue
- November 11......Act 1
- November 18......Act 2
- December 2........Act 3
Skill Levels: Every challenge will offer two modes: an easy mode and a harder mode. Players can choose either mode to solve the challenge, depending on their skill level or preference.
Challenge Skipping: Each challenge will include a “play-through” mode, allowing players to advance the storyline without solving the challenge immediately. You can skip a challenge and return to it later.
Share Solutions: For the Prologue, Act 1, and Act 2, participants can post answers or livestream their solutions starting one week after each section's release. This allows others to learn from shared solutions and progress in the game. However, for Act 3, players must wait until after the competition ends before sharing their answers or solutions.
Scoreboard and Cohorts: Track your progress on a live scoreboard of all players, plus a separate scoreboard dedicated to a cohort exclusively for your organization or group of friends, allowing you to have a friendly competition with peers.
*Sign up below to be notified when new challenges are released.
Now Open!
The SANS Holiday Hack Challenge 2024: Snow-maggedon is here! Listen to Ed Skoudis, Chief Holiday Officer, in the Welcome and Game Orientation video to make the most of this cyber range. Join us on Discord to chat with other players, share tips, and connect through text or voice channels. Follow us on X for the latest updates. And if you're up for it, enter the contest for a chance to win one of the coveted Holiday Hack Challenge prizes!
2024 Challenge Topics
- Ransomware Reverse Engineering
- Hardware Hacking
- Web App Hacking with MQTT and Video Feed Manipulation
- Video Game Hacking
- Threat Hunting with KQL
- SIM/SEM Analysis
- Mobile App Penetration Testing
- OSINT via Drone Path Analysis
- Web Exploration with cURL
- PowerShell for Cyber Defense
Enter The Contest for Grand Prizes!
If you'd like to enter the contest for a chance to win a prize, please submit a report with a description of how you solved each objective in the Google form (will be provided here near the submission due date and requires a Google account to access).
CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS (click to view)
Reports should be submitted by the end of the day on January 3, 2025*. Alternatively, if you'd rather not use the Google form, you can email your answers to SANSHolidayHackChallenge@counterhack.com.
You DO NOT have to answer all questions to be eligible to win a prize. All reports must be 75 pages or fewer in length.
From all submitted entries, we'll pick three winners, according to the following plan:
- One random draw answer whose user has clicked on each of the five vendor booths (Google, Microsoft, RSAC, SANS.edu, and Holiday Hack Swag Store):
- HOLIDAY HACK CHALLENGE T-SHIRT
- The best technical answer:
- ONE SUBSCRIPTION TO NETWARS CONTINUOUS for FOUR MONTHS
- The most creative (while technically correct) answer:
- ONE SUBSCRIPTION TO NETWARS CONTINUOUS for FOUR MONTHS
- The best overall answer, our GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
- ONE SANS ONDEMAND TRAINING COURSE**
Remember, even if you can't answer one or more of the questions, please do submit an answer of any kind to be entered in our random draw. Seriously, if you get 50%, 80%, or 98% of the answers, you'll still be eligible to win.
The very best overall answer earns our Grand Prize - a complimentary SANS OnDemand course of your choice! The winner will choose from any of SANS' 30+ Online Courses, and will complete SANS training at their own pace from anywhere on the internet.
Feel free to post answers from Prologue challenges after Act 1 launches (Nov. 11, 2024). You can likewise post Act 1 challenges after Act 2 launches (Nov. 18, 2024). And, you can post Act 2 answers after Act 3 launches (Dec. 2, 2024). We kindly ask that you refrain from publicly publishing any answers, write-ups, or walkthroughs for Act 3 until after the competition ends on our submission deadline of January 3, 2025. Once that passes, please feel free to publish!
Happy Holidays!
--Counter Hack and Friends
* Any time zone on planet Earth will do.
** SANS will choose only one winner for the Grand Prize. These prizes are not transferable to another person or event and do not include a certification attempt. Only one course will be awarded per category, regardless of how many people contributed to a winning submission. No substitutions are allowed. For any of these prizes, SANS is not responsible for lost, late, or unintelligible entries, lost connections, miscommunications, failed transmissions, reindeer attacks, or other technical difficulties or failures.
- One random draw answer whose user has clicked on each of the five vendor booths (Google, Microsoft, RSAC, SANS.edu, and Holiday Hack Swag Store):
Snow-maggedon MerchSnow-maggedon MerchDeck the Halls with Elf-Stuffers! This year's collection for Holiday Hack Challenge 2024: Snow-maggedon brings a variety of strong colors and detailed prints. Grab your favorites and share some North Pole spirit with your holiday season!
Join the party!Join the party!Join us on January 16, 2025, for the Holiday Hack Challenge Closing Ceremony and Winners Announcement webcast! Tune in to celebrate this year’s top players, relive unforgettable moments, and wrap up another incredible season of holiday-themed cybersecurity fun.
Special Thanks To Our Sponsors
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Press Play for Music While You Play the Holiday Hack Challenge
Immerse yourself in the festive spirit of the SANS Holiday Hack Challenge, where talented musicians create awesome albums each year. Sing along and make your learning experience even more jolly!
Also available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music.
Download All Music from Holiday Hack Challenge Over the Years
Holiday Hack Challenge 2023 | 6 Geese a Lei'ing
Track 01 - 2023 A Holiday Odyssey Sprachs Du Christmas (feat. Ninjula)
Track 02 - Mele Kalikimaka HHC Style (feat. Ninjula)
Track 03 - Tainted Winter Snow (feat. Josh Skoudis)
Track 04 - 99 Schneebälle (feat. Ninjula)
Track 05 - Rock Me Santa Claus (feat. Josh Skoudis & Ninjula)
Track 06 - Santa Jaws (we're gonna need a bigger sleigh) (feat. Ninjula)
Track 07 - Coming to Tizown (feat. Ninjula)
Track 08 - Jangle Bells (feat. Ninjula)
Track 09 - Do You Hear What I Hear (feat. Ninjula)
Holiday Hack Challenge 2022 | 5 Golden Rings
Track 01 - Mr Magi (feat. Frankie Cicala)
Track 02 - Deck The Halls (feat. Frankie Cicala & Bernie Dippolito)
Track 03 - We Wish You a Merry Christmas (feat. Frankie Cicala & Bernie Dippolito)
Track 04 - The Christmas Song (feat. Frankie Cicala & Vance Villastrigo)
Track 05 - B-ROF (feat. Josh Skoudis)
Track 06 - Come On Steal The Toys (feat. Josh Skoudis)
Track 07 - Christmas Crazy (feat. Ninjula)
Track 08 - Return of the Song of the Spire but with More Santa (feat. Ninjula)
Track 09 - These Are a Few of MFTs (feat. Ninjula)
Track 10 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (feat. Ninjula & Mary Ellen Kennel)
Holiday Hack Challenge 2021 | 4 Calling Birds
Track 01 - I Love Winter Snow (feat. Josh Skoudis)
Track 02 - All Your Christmas (feat. Ninjula)
Track 03 - Chill, You Cherry Old Chaps (feat. Ninjula)
Track 04 - Do You Hear What I Hear (feat. Ninjula)
Track 05 - Hall of the Mountain King (feat. Ninjula)
Track 06 - I'd Prefer a Semi-aquatic Mamal for Christmas (feat. Ninjula)
Track 07 - Viva Frost Vegas (feat. Ninjula)
Track 08 - Wyatt Kristmas (feat. Ninjula)
Track 09 - Goody Two Shoes (feat. Ninjula & Josh Skoudis)
Holiday Hack Challenge 2020 | 3 French Hens
Track 01 - Falling (feat. Dual Core)
Track 02 - I'm The Real Santa (feat. Josh Skoudis)
Track 03 - Is That You Santa Clause (feat. Josh Skoudis & Devin Kelly)
Track 04 - I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus (feat. Mary Ellen Kennel)
Track 05 - Girl Form Ipanema (feat. Ninjula)
Track 06 - I Could Be Santa (feat. Ninjula)
Track 07 - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claw (feat. Ninjula)
Track 08 - Need a Little Xmas (feat. Ninjula)
Track 09 - Santa Claws Is Back in Town (feat. Ninjula)
Track 10 - You're a Maen One, Mr Grinch (feat. Ninjula)
Holiday Hack Challenge 2019 | 2 Turtle Doves
Track 01 - Tis Not The Season (feat. Dual Core) [Instrumental]
Track 02 - Tis Not The Season (feat. Dual Core)
Track 03 - Chim Chimabunga (feat. Josh Skoudis)
Track 04 - Everybody Wants to Look a Lot Like Christmas (feat. Ninjula)
Track 05 - Here Comes Santa (feat. Ninjula)
Track 06 - Holly Jolly Xmas (feat. Ninjula)
Track 07 - Jinglebell Rock (feat. Ninjula)
Track 08 - Let it Snow (feat. Ninjula)
Track 09 - Merry Little Xmas (feat. Ninjula)
Track 10 - Need a Little Xmas (no fireworks) (feat. Ninjula)
Track 11 - Need a Little Xmas (fireworks) (feat. Ninjula)
Track 12 - Supa Cali Fragile Lipstick (feat. Ninjula)
Holiday Hack Challenge 2018 | KringleCon
Track 01 - Christmas in Hollis (feat. Keith Myers & Ninjula)
Track 02 - Dreidel (feat. Keith Myers & Ninjula)
Track 03 - Let it Snow (feat. Keith Myers & Ninjula)
Track 04 - Ode to Joy (feat. Keith Myers & Ninjula)
Track 05 - Winter Wonderland (feat. Keith Myers & Ninjula)
Track 06 - Brandenburgh #3 (feat. Ninjula)
Track 07 - Jingle Bells (feat. Zippi Abramson & Josh Skoudis)
Holiday Hack Challenge 2017 | Wintered
Track 01 - Most Wonderful (feat. Dual Core)
Track 02 - Deck Tha Hallz (feat. Keith Myers & Ninjula)
Track 03 - Dreidel (feat. Keith Myers & Ninjula)
Track 04 - OZ Medely (feat. Keith Myers & Ninjula)
Track 05 - Run Rudolph (feat. Keith Myers & Ninjula)
Practice Now | Explore the Legacy of Past Challenges
As you wait for the 2024 game to open, why not revisit the epic adventures of past Holiday Hack Challenges? Practicing with past games will prepare you to take on whatever this year's challenges throw at you!
