What is Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy?
Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy is an online cybersecurity classroom that aims to improve your cybersecurity skills! There are self guided training modules to review and help increase your knowledge in this every changing cybersecurity world. You also have access to challenges to test your skills. Build up your skill set to solve all the problems and share with friends!
Our Goal
Our goal is to be the catalyst for our students' lifelong journey in cybersecurity, equipping them with the confidence and competence to excel in their careers and make meaningful contributions to the safety and security of our digital world. At Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy, we don't just teach cybersecurity - we inspire a new generation of guardians in the digital age.
Path to Success
Embarking on the path to cybersecurity mastery is a thrilling adventure that promises not only intellectual satisfaction but also a vital role in safeguarding our digital world. As high school students at the threshold of this dynamic field, your journey to success is paved with curiosity, dedication, and a proactive mindset.
Firstly, immerse yourself in the basics. Grasp the fundamental concepts of computer networks, systems, and the principles of information security. Understand the importance of strong passwords, the role of encryption, and the dangers of social engineering.
Next, cultivate a habit of continuous learning. The cybersecurity landscape is ever-evolving, so stay informed about the latest threats and the cutting-edge defenses against them. Participate in online forums, follow industry experts on social media, and subscribe to cybersecurity publications.
As you continue, engage in hands-on experience. Such as joining our Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy, experimenting with ethical hacking on controlled environments, participate in Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions like our Lockheed Martin CyberQuest Competition, and contribute to open-source security projects. This practical application is invaluable and will enhance your understanding and skills.
To further improve your skills, build a network of peers and mentors. Connect with like-minded students, join cybersecurity clubs, and seek guidance from professionals in the field. Their insights and support will be indispensable as you navigate through your learning process.
Additionally, prioritize ethical responsibility. With great power comes great responsibility, so commit to using your skills with integrity to protect and not to harm.
Finally, be patient and resilient. Mastery does not come overnight, and the road may be fraught with challenges. Maintain your passion, celebrate your progress, and persevere through obstacles.
Remember, your path to success in cybersecurity is unique to you. Embrace it with an open mind and a tenacious spirit, and you will not only achieve success in your career but also contribute to a safer digital society for everyone.
How the Challenge Works
Check out the Challenge section of the website. You will find a large set of cybersecurity problems, ranging from easy to hard. You will be able to search and filter our problems by difficulty level and by your status on each problem, one of:
- Not Attempted
- Solved - Successfully solved the challenge and earned points. Your solution must match the expected flag exactly in order to be judged correct.
- Not Solved - Attempted the problem but not yet successful.
Challenges may include:
- Web-based attacks - Common vulnerabilities found within websites across the internet
- Windows & Linux privilege escalation - Find vulnerabilities to move from a user to an administrator
- Packet capture & log analysis - A network traffic capture or various application / server logs commonly analyzed by cyber incident responders to retrace an adversary's steps
- Steganography - The practice of concealing a file, message, image, or video within another file, message, image, or video
- Reverse engineering - The processes of extracting knowledge or design information from anything man-made and reproducing it or reproducing anything based on the extracted information
- Cryptography - The construction and analysis of techniques that prevent eavesdroppers from reading private messages
Challenge Points
Generally, challenges will be worth these point values:
- Easy: 5 points
- Medium: 10 points
- Hard: 20 points
Particularly difficult challenges may be worth far more points; prepare well before attempting these! Solve as many problems (and earn as many points) as you can! You may use points you've earned to purchase hints as you work your way through the challenges.
Sharpen Your Skills
Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy is focused on developing your cybersecurity skills. Check out our Training Labs to strengthen your skills!
Technical Specifications
Many different operating systems exist, and they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. We recommend the following hardware and software options for your Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® journey:
- Microsoft Windows 10 or higher (64-bit operating system, x64 processor)
- .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher
- Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection
- macOS
- 64-bit macOS Mojave (10.14), Catalina (10.15), or Big Sur (11.0)
- Microsoft Remote Desktop
- Linux
- Ubuntu 18.04 LTS or Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (AMD64 only)
- rdesktop (Remote Desktop Protocol client)
- All operating systems
- SSH client
- Windows: PuTTY recommended (there are other options as well, any that support ssh connections will work)
- macOS: Terminal (ssh is built-in)
- Linux: Terminal, but ensure an ssh client is installed such as openssh-client (typically installed by default)
- Web browser
- Must have a recently updated version of the Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome browser
- SSH client
Frequently Asked Questions
The Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy program is constantly being updated to help you excel, so if your question isn't answered here, please contact us by email using the button at the bottom of this page!
Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® and Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy... What's the Difference?
Lockheed Martin is proud to offer multiple programs aimed at encouraging and developing STEM skills for high school students and preparing them for technology-related careers.
Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® is Lockheed Martin's annual cybersecurity competition for high-school age students (generally 14-18 years old, not yet enrolled in secondary education). Usually held in the first quarter of each year, the contest asks teams of 3-5 students to solve as many challenges as possible within a 3-hour time limit by exercising their cybersecurity skills to capture "flags." Topics for challenges include incident response and analysis, cryptography and steganography, system exploits and penetration, and more. US-based attendees at these events over age 16 are offered the opportunity to apply for one of several summer internships across the Lockheed Martin corporation.
Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy is a STEM outreach program in which volunteer Lockheed Martin employees are paired with a high school classroom to provide in-person or virtual mentoring sessions. Registration for these sessions takes place in the fall semester, and accepted classrooms will be offered at least four mentoring sessions over the course of the spring semester. This aims to provide students, particularly those in under-served or under-priviledged communities, with practical cybersecurity skills and career advice, as well as prepare them for participation in the Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST®contest. Teachers with classes registered with Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy receive access to a two-week early registration period for the Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® contest (however, teams are not automatically registered).
Can I Request a Teacher Account?
While we are continually working on updating this website and adding new features, at this time we do not have separate accounts for teachers and other educators. If you would like more information about the resources we are able to offer to teachers and educators, please contact us by clicking the button at the bottom of this page.
I've Registered My Class for Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy; Are We Automatically Registered for Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST®?
No; Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy and Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® are separate programs and have different registration requirements. Being registered for Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® Academy mentoring sessions grants you access to early registration for the Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® contest, but you still must complete registration for each student, coach, and team that will participate in Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST®. Please also be aware that attendance at Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® is often strictly limited due to physical space limitations (for on-site events) and volunteer availability (for both on-site and virtual events), so we may not be able to accomodate the attendance of your entire class at the Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST® contest.
How to get started
Search for Challenges
Find a challenge suited to your skill level.
Complete the Quest
Capture the flag, and enter it to see if you're correct.