DC3 Challenge

Submissions

You will be required to submit your answers using our standardized forms. Extra copies can be found here:
- Report of Examination Sheet
- Methodology Sheet
UPDATED: All team-created tools, techniques, solutions and responses, in their entirety, will be shared in their entirety amongst the Challenge participants as well as with DoD partners and the digital forensics community by Challenge team names only. All other information will remain anonymous from being able to identify a team or its members throughout the process unless provided prior written approval by the Challenge team members to release.
NEW: Any request for contact information for any Challenge teams on their submissions must be sent to DC3. These requests will be routed by DC3 to the Challenge team leader. It is the Challenge team's discretion to contact the interested party outside of DC3.

Cyber Challenge Objectives

The objectives of the Annual Digital Forensics Challenge are to:
- Establish relationships within the Digital Forensics Community;
- Resolve issues facing the Digital Forensics Community;
- Develop new tools, techniques, and methodologies for the Digital Forensics Community.

Participation Requirements

UPDATED: Each team must complete the DC3 Challenge Application in entirety, including personal information. This information is required by DC3 for teams to participate in the Challenge. All personal information collected will be kept anonymous from being able to identify a team or its members to team name only. Failure to provide accurate personal information will invalidate your application.
Anyone can participate in the Challenge.
Teams may consist of no more than four members.
Individuals may participate on one team only.
The DC3 Challenge requires that all winning team participants hold U.S. citizenship and travel from the United States in order to claim the trip to the Conference. (U.S. citizens abroad are eligible to win provided they transport themselves to the United States)
The DC3 Digital Forensics Challenge welcomes non-U.S. citizens to participate for score. Only non-U.S. citizens of International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber-Threats (IMPACT) member countries (and not living in the U.S.) are eligible to win the IMPACT Prize
UPDATED:Only the first one-hundred teams that submit solutions will be eligible to compete for the prizes. However, this is subject to increase upon re-evaulation by DC3 based on the number of participating teams and their submissions at the discretion of DC3 for a tie breaker.
Each team will be required to send email confirmation upon receipt of their Challenge Packet.
All current DC3 personnel and former DC3 personnel who are within one calendar year ( 01 January 2008 to present of separation) are ineligible to participate.

Challenge Information

Each packet will contain electronic answer sheets for each of the challenges that must be filled out and returned to receive credit for the completed challenges.
- You do not have to complete all of the individual challenges. Submit what you complete.
- An electronic template is attached to your answer sheets for your notes and reports.
Commercial tools can be used on the Challenge, but must be documented on your answer sheet(s).
- All non-commercial tools used in completing a challenge must also be documented on your answer sheet(s) and a copy of the tool must be submitted (executable only) with your solution to validate your challenge solution.

Participants that qualify as academic participants are eligible to win the academic prize.
In addition to the general rules these are the academic requirements:

Post Graduate
- Individuals and/or teams must be in the Post Graduate (PG) category on the date when the Challenge 2009 package is submitted (not when you apply).
- PG person(s) who submits their package prior to graduating are considered in the PG category.
- PG person(s) who submits their package after graduating are considered in the category of Civilian, Military, Government, or Commercial and are ineligible for Academic recognition.

Under Graduate
- Individuals and/or teams must be in the Under Graduate (UG) category on the date when the Challenge 2009 package is submitted (not when you apply).
- UG person(s) who submits their package prior to graduating are in the UG category.
- UG person(s) who submits their package after graduating but while attending first semester in post graduate are in the PG category.
- UG person(s) who submits their package after graduating but not while attending the first semester in post graduate are considered in the category of either Civilian, Military, Government, or Commercial and are ineligible for Academic recognition.

High School
- Individuals and/or teams must be in the High School (HS) category on the date when the Challenge 2009 package is submitted (not when you apply).
- HS senior(s) who submits their package prior to graduating are in the HS category.
- HS senior(s) who submits their package after graduating, but while attending first semester in college are in the Under Graduate (UG) category.
- HS senior(s) who submits their package after graduating, but not while attending the first semester in college are considered in the Overall category and ineligible for Academic recognition.

If you indicate an academic affiliation, you will be required to provide proof of enrollment upon winning the Challenge. You must be enrolled in an academic institution on the date you submit your solutions package to be eligible for Academic status. If your team consists of academic students from different categories (e.g. 2 from high school and 2 from college, select the highest level of education as the teams affiliation).

A letter or fax on letterhead from the institution will suffice. Age of the player on the date of their Challenge 2009 submission does not matter.

Key Dates

Packets containing all of the challenge materials will be mailed out on or about 06 March 2009 .
- Applications received each day by close of business (COB) will ship out the following business day.
All challenge solution packages must be mailed back to DC3 with a postmark no later than 11:59:59 PM EST 02 November 2009 to be eligible for the prize.
No further challenge packets will be sent out and no further registrations will be accepted after midnight EST 02 November 2009 .
Challenge solutions received thereafter will still be accepted, reviewed and scored, but contestants will not be eligible to win the prize of the trip.
Each team can only submit one challenge solution package (encompassing all of their solutions).
All participants will be notified of the scoring results 01 December 2009 via email. In addition, the final results will be posted on the Challenge Website.
In the event of a tie the challenge solution package that arrives at DC3 in the least amount of time will be declared the winner.
- Duration of your examination is determined by the date & time the package is mailed out by DC3 to the date & time your package is received by DC3.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

The computer data and media supplied for the DC3 Challenge has been checked for computer viruses, trojans, and other malicious code using commercial antivirus software current as of 06 March 2009 and is found to be free of such programs. If the materials received appear tampered with discontinue use immediately and return the materials to DC3.

In consideration of participating in the DC3 challenge, contestants acknowledge that DC3 is not responsible for any damage caused to any computer or network due to the loading of, or operation of the storage media holding the DC3 Challenge materials.

DC3 CHALLENGE JUDGING STATEMENT

By submitting a proposed solution to the DC3 Challenge, you agree to the following terms:

You have checked your answer for viruses, trojans, and malicious code using commercially available antivirus software and certify that it is free of those malicious computer programs.
If you are the winner of the Challenge, you agree to have your name and other personal information used in advertising promoting the DoD Cyber Crime Conference.
DC3 is the final arbiter of any dispute concerning interpretation of the rules for the DC3 Challenge. All Decisions are final.

All tools and methods created by the Challenge participants will remain the intellectual property of the creator(s).

To evaluate efficiency, DC3 will require at least one copy of each non-commercial tool and a description of the methods and steps taken to accomplish the challenge. All non-commercial tools and techniques must be submitted to DC3 with your challenge solutions.