Terms of Service
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the DEADFACE CTF websites, scoring platform, applications, event pages, challenges, content, communications, and related services (collectively, the "Services").
DEADFACE CTF is operated by Cyber Hacktics("DEADFACE CTF," "Cyber Hacktics," "we," "us," or "our").
Important Notice
By registering for, accessing, or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.
Eligibility
You may use the Services only if you are able to form a binding agreement under applicable law.
By using the Services, you represent that:
- ›the information you provide is accurate and complete
- ›you will comply with these Terms and all event rules
- ›your participation is lawful in your jurisdiction
- ›you will not use the Services for any unauthorized, unlawful, or harmful purpose
If participation is restricted by age, location, sanctions, export controls, school rules, employer rules, or local law, you are responsible for complying with those restrictions.
If minors are permitted to participate, they may do so only with any consent or supervision required by applicable law and event policy.
Event Nature and Purpose
DEADFACE CTF is a cybersecurity Capture the Flag competition designed for education, training, skill development, and lawful competitive participation.
Your access to the Services is a limited, revocable permission to use the platform only for the intended purposes of the event and only in compliance with these Terms, our posted rules, and any event-specific guidance.
Account Registration and Security
To access certain portions of the Services, you may be required to create an account.
You agree to:
- ›provide accurate registration information
- ›keep your login credentials confidential
- ›maintain the security of your account
- ›notify us promptly of any unauthorized access or suspected compromise
You are responsible for all activity occurring under your account unless prohibited by law.
We may suspend, restrict, or terminate accounts that are false, misleading, compromised, abusive, or otherwise in violation of these Terms or event rules.
Acceptable Use
You agree to use the Services only in a lawful, authorized, and respectful manner.
You must not:
Competition Scope
Participation in DEADFACE CTF is limited to the systems, challenges, and targets explicitly designated by us as in scope.
Unless expressly identified as part of the competition, you must not target, probe, test, scan, attack, exploit, disrupt, or attempt to access:
- ›the DEADFACE CTF scoring platform infrastructure, except through normal authorized gameplay
- ›organizer systems not expressly designated as challenge targets
- ›sponsor systems or services unless expressly identified as in scope
- ›participant devices, accounts, or infrastructure
- ›third-party networks, websites, APIs, or services
- ›any non-event systems
Important
For avoidance of doubt, the scoring platform, event website, and related administrative systems are not challenge targets unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Any activity outside authorized scope may result in immediate disqualification, account termination, reporting to relevant parties, and possible legal action.
Fair Play and Competition Integrity
You agree to compete fairly and honestly.
Prohibited conduct includes:
- ›cheating
- ›collusion beyond permitted team collaboration
- ›unauthorized flag sharing
- ›exploiting platform bugs for unfair advantage
- ›denial-of-service activity
- ›interfering with other participants' ability to compete
- ›using multiple accounts to gain an advantage
- ›bypassing challenge intent in a manner we determine undermines competition fairness
We reserve the sole right to determine, in good faith, whether conduct violates the spirit or letter of the competition, these Terms, or any event rules.
Our decisions regarding scoring, challenge validity, tie-breaking, eligibility, disqualification, and enforcement are final.
User Content
You may submit or post content through the Services, including usernames, team names, writeups, flags, messages, challenge submissions, feedback, and other materials ("User Content").
You retain ownership of your User Content, subject to the rights you grant below.
By submitting User Content, you grant Cyber Hacktics and DEADFACE CTF a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to host, store, reproduce, display, publish, distribute, modify for formatting, and use that User Content for:
- ›operating the competition
- ›maintaining scoreboards and event records
- ›promoting current or future DEADFACE CTF events
- ›publishing writeups, stats, recaps, and educational materials
- ›archival, community, nonprofit, and training purposes
You represent that:
- ›you have the rights necessary to submit the content
- ›your content does not violate law or third-party rights
- ›your content does not contain malicious material except as authorized in challenge context
We may remove or restrict User Content at our discretion.
Writeups, Publicity, and Event Media
We may publish or reference:
- ›team names
- ›usernames
- ›scores
- ›rankings
- ›solve activity
- ›writeups
- ›winner announcements
- ›event statistics
- ›screenshots or recordings of public event activity
By participating, you agree that we may use your publicly displayed competition identity and related event participation information for event administration, historical records, publicity, and nonprofit educational promotion, without additional compensation, unless prohibited by applicable law.
If you submit a writeup, walkthrough, testimonial, or other public-facing material, you grant us the right to share and republish it in connection with DEADFACE CTF and Cyber Hacktics.
Prizes, Awards, and Badges
If DEADFACE CTF offers prizes, awards, certificates, or digital badges:
- ›eligibility requirements may apply
- ›winners may be required to verify identity, eligibility, age, residence, and compliance
- ›taxes, reporting obligations, and local legal compliance are the responsibility of the recipient
- ›prize substitution, limitation, revocation, or cancellation may occur if necessary due to fraud, ineligibility, unavailability, legal concerns, or rule violations
We are not responsible for third-party delays, platform failures, badge issuer limitations, shipping issues, customs issues, or sponsor-related fulfillment problems.
Privacy
Your use of the Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and disclose information.
By using the Services, you acknowledge that you have reviewed the Privacy Policy.
Third-Party Services
The Services may integrate with or link to third-party services, platforms, sponsors, tools, streaming services, chat platforms, badge issuers, email providers, or payment/shipping providers.
We do not control and are not responsible for third-party services, their terms, availability, content, security, or privacy practices.
Your use of third-party services is governed by their own terms and policies.
Intellectual Property
The Services, including platform design, branding, logos, challenge content, graphics, text, event materials, and related content, are owned by or licensed to Cyber Hacktics and are protected by intellectual property laws.
Except as expressly permitted, you may not:
- ›copy, distribute, sell, sublicense, or commercially exploit our content
- ›modify or create derivative works from protected materials
- ›use our trademarks, logos, or branding in a misleading or unauthorized way
Participation in the event does not transfer any ownership rights in the Services or our materials.
Suspension and Termination
We may suspend, restrict, or terminate your access to the Services at any time, with or without notice, if we believe you have:
- ›violated these Terms
- ›violated event rules or community standards
- ›engaged in abusive, unsafe, fraudulent, or unlawful conduct
- ›threatened the integrity, security, or availability of the event
- ›created legal, reputational, or operational risk
Termination may include disqualification, score removal, revocation of awards, deletion of content, and exclusion from future events.
Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DEADFACE CTF AND CYBER HACKTICS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AVAILABILITY, SECURITY, OR ACCURACY.
We do not guarantee that:
- ›the Services will be uninterrupted or error-free
- ›challenges will always be available or solvable
- ›scores or rankings will be free from defects or delays
- ›the Services will be secure or free from harmful components
- ›any specific outcome, placement, prize, or benefit will result from participation
Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DEADFACE CTF, CYBER HACKTICS, THEIR ORGANIZERS, VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND LICENSORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, REVENUE, GOODWILL, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, OR PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICES OR THESE TERMS.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE SERVICES OR THESE TERMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF:
$100
USD
Amount Paid
to participate (if any)
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some of the above may not apply to you.
Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless DEADFACE CTF, Cyber Hacktics, and their organizers, volunteers, affiliates, sponsors, licensors, and service providers from and against claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of or related to:
- ›your use of the Services
- ›your User Content
- ›your violation of these Terms
- ›your violation of applicable law
- ›your unauthorized or out-of-scope activity
- ›your infringement of another person's rights
Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Texas, without regard to conflict of law rules.
You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS, unless applicable law requires otherwise.
Changes to These Terms
We may modify these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date above.
Changes become effective when posted, unless otherwise stated. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.
Severability
If any provision of these Terms is held unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with any event rules, code of conduct, challenge-specific instructions, and our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Services and supersede prior or contemporaneous understandings relating to the same subject matter.
Contact Information
Questions about these Terms may be directed to:
Cyber Hacktics / DEADFACE CTF