Features
Root the Box attempts to engage novice and experienced hackers alike by combining a fun game-like environment, with realistic challenges that convey knowledge applicable to real-world penetration testing. Just as in traditional CTF games, each team attacks targets of varying difficulty and sophistication attempting to collect flags. However in Root the Box, teams can also create "Botnets" by uploading a small bot program to target machines. Teams are periodically rewarded with (in-game) money for each bot in their botnet; the larger the botnet the larger the reward.
A bot script is successfully executed on a target machine:
This money allows teams to unlock new levels and purchase upgrades. For example, one of the upgrades, gives you access to other player's password hashes through the "Federal Reserve Mainframe". If a player can crack an opponent's password hash, they can transfer money from their opponent's bank account into their own. Other upgrades allow you to change your own password hashing algorithm, buy source code for target applications, or even "SWAT" enemy players and remove them from the game for a short while.
