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Join your first event

Use this quickstart if someone has invited you to a Biterra CTF or you want to join an event from the Customer Portal.

1. Sign in​

  1. Open ctf.biterra.co.
  2. Sign in with Google or with your email and password.
  3. If you do not have an account, create one unless your organiser has told you the event is a workshop link that does not need sign-in.

Use the same sign-in method you used when you created the account. If you signed up with Google, keep using Sign in with Google.

2. Find the event​

You can reach an event in two common ways:

  • Open Events in the sidebar and browse events visible to you.
  • Open the direct event link shared by the organiser.

If you are already registered, use My Events to get back to the event.

3. Register​

When registration is open:

  1. Open the event.
  2. Click Register.
  3. If asked, enter the event access code from the organiser. This code unlocks invite-only event registration.
  4. If the event uses teams, choose whether to create a new team or join an existing team.

Registration is separate from map access. You may be registered before the event is live.

4. Create or join a team​

For team events, the team registration modal asks you to choose:

  • Create a new team: enter a team name. Biterra creates a team invite code you can share with teammates.
  • Join an existing team: enter the team invite code your organiser or teammate gave you.

If you try to create a team name that already exists, Biterra shows a warning with two next steps: Join existing team or Rename.

The team invite code is not the same as the event access code. You may need both for an invite-only team event.

5. Open the map​

When the event is live, click Access from the event card or event page. This opens the world map.

On the map:

  • Click countries, regions, or markers to open challenges.
  • Read the challenge description carefully.
  • Download files or open links if the challenge provides them.
  • Use hints only when your team agrees, because hints can cost points.
  • Submit the answer in the challenge panel.

6. Watch your score​

Your team shares one score. Correct answers add points, wrong attempts can subtract points, hints can cost points, and first solves may earn bonuses depending on the organiser's settings.

Open the scoreboard if the organiser has enabled it. Some events hide the scoreboard until after the event or use anonymous team names.

If something blocks you​

Check these first:

  • Registration may not be open yet.
  • The event may be full.
  • You may be using the team invite code in the event access code field, or the other way around.
  • Your team may be full.
  • The event may not have started yet.
  • Organisation-only events require organisation membership.

See Troubleshooting event access for more detail.