Welcome to hackUMBC 2025, the most prestigious hackathon in the region. You've arrived at the Information and Library Services (ILS) building, the heart of UMBC's academic computing infrastructure.
But something's wrong. The check-in scanners are down, and there's a strange energy in the air. Staff members are whispering about a "phantom" entry that somehow slipped through the system during the pre-registration process. This mysterious participant has left traces throughout the campus network, and now the entire check-in system is compromised.
Dr. Sarah Chen, the hackathon coordinator, approaches you with urgent news: "We've discovered that the phantom left a series of encoded messages across our campus systems. If we can't trace and validate their entry, we might have to shut down the entire event. We need someone with your technical skills to follow the phantom's trail and restore our security protocols."
She hands you a campus map with three critical locations marked: the ILS building (where you are now), the Library, and The Commons. "The phantom's trail leads through these locations. Start here at ILS, then follow the path to the Library where you'll find the first clue. Each step will unlock the next location."
Your Mission: Restore the hackUMBC 2025 check-in system by following the phantom's trail and collecting the authentication flags. The phantom has hidden two critical flags in the format HackUMBC{...} that will validate your credentials and unlock the submission portal.
Are you ready to begin your investigation?