HackMex is one of Latin America's most recognized cybersecurity competitions, organized annually by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) and powered by echoCTF. What started as a one-time engagement in 2019 quickly evolved into a long-term partnership built on trust, innovation, and consistent delivery.

Each edition pushes the boundaries of cyber simulation — combining real-world attack scenarios with live visualizations, interactive experiences, and scalable multi-track infrastructure.

• 2019: First event with IPN; massive media attention and national recognition
• 2020: Introduced dual-track setup for Academic and Government teams with separate dashboards
• 2021: Maintained hybrid format due to pandemic, reinforcing resilience of the platform
• 2022: Scaled to 500 participants across 3 sectors (Academic, Government, Professionals) with qualification and final rounds
• 2023: Debuted a nuclear plant mini-diorama for visualizing ICS/SCADA threats
• 2024: Introduced interactive bomb defusal game for bystanders, boosting public engagement

CTF Area

Competition Area

Visuals From Attacks

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Network Visuals

OffensiveX 2024 marked echoCTF's first event in Greece, held in Athens. The event showcased a hackable diorama of a modern city, providing participants with a hands-on experience in simulating cyberattacks on urban infrastructure.

• Interactive smart city diorama with critical infrastructure components
• Live demonstrations of cyberattack simulations on urban systems
• Engagement with international cybersecurity experts and enthusiasts
• Integration of echoCTF's platform for real-time challenge execution

Smart City Diorama

CTF Participants

Model City Closeup

AfriHackBox 2024 was one of several African events powered by echoCTF, building momentum across the continent for ethical hacking and cyber readiness.

• 24-hour live CTF with over 160 participants
• Featured a live “Headshot” mini challenge
• Blended competition with community-building

AfriHackBox Event

AfriHackBox Logo

brCTF (“Break The Code”) is Ghana’s premier national CTF series, co-organized with echoCTF and OffSec. It combines digital and physical challenges in a 24-hour team-based format.

• Fully sponsored by Echothrust Solutions as part of our commitment to community and education
• Finals hosted at Accra Digital Centre
• Strong female participation and mentorship
• Supported by echoCTF, OffSec, and local partners

Hard Target

Solving Challenges

HackGDL 2024 brought together Mexico’s cybersecurity community for a weekend of hacking, learning, and collaboration. echoCTF developed and hosted the online qualifiers, setting the stage for an engaging main event.

• echoCTF platform provided as a full sponsorship to support early-stage talent in Mexico
• Challenges in web, reverse, crypto, and forensics
• Community-led with strong local partnerships

HackGDL Sponsors

Festive Atmosphere

Digital Pakistan Cybersecurity Hackathon 2021 was a national initiative to foster cybersecurity talent across Pakistan. echoCTF developed and hosted the technical platform for all qualifying and final rounds.

• Regional rounds in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad
• Finale held in Islamabad
• Over 1,500 participants trained in pre-event workshops
• Challenges included web, mobile, network, OS, and speed programming

Simultaneous Attacks In finals

Leaderboard

EESTech Challenge 2021 was a European cybersecurity competition organized by EESTEC, featuring local rounds in Athens and Thessaloniki. echoCTF delivered the CTF competition for the national rounds.

• Sponsored and hosted both Greek semifinal CTFs
• Local rounds held in Athens and Thessaloniki
• Teams competed in a mixed-style CTF format
• Challenges included forensics, reverse engineering, and network exploitation

EESTech 2021 Athens Flyer

Cyber Sabers Hackathon was a flagship cybersecurity competition held during the MENA ISC conferences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. From 2017 to 2019, echoCTF provided the technical platform and interactive dioramas for these events.

• 2019: Expanded challenges reflecting latest security trends
• 2018: 36 teams, 153 participants; introduced signature building models
• 2017: Featured interactive models of Riyadh landmarks
• Prizes ranged from 20,000 to 50,000 SAR for top teams
• Participants received certificates of participation

Construction Site

Airport Departures

Diorama View

CTF Hall View

echoCTF Model City

Closer View of the Diorama

Smart Farm

Oil Factory and Solar Plant

Attempted Attack

echoCTF Fountain

During the Event

Model buildings of Riyadh

2017 echoCiTy-F Oil Pumps

2017 Model City

IDEX 2019 featured a live demonstration platform developed by echoCTF, illustrating the impact of cyberattacks on military infrastructure through a custom-built diorama.

• Simulated cyberattacks on military control systems
• Real-time control of diorama elements like UAVs and hangar doors
• Demonstrated vulnerabilities in defense infrastructure
• Interactive presentation for defense industry professionals
• Showcased echoCTF's capabilities in military cybersecurity training

Drone Control Room

Automated Drone Hangar

Fuel Station

Inside the Base HQ

Cyber Europe 2018, organized by ENISA, featured the "Hack the Airport" scenario—a scaled model of an airport infrastructure used to simulate cyber-attacks on critical systems. echoCTF developed the technical platform enabling participants to interact with and exploit various airport components.

• Simulated control of jet bridges, radars, and moving walkways
• Interactive departures board manipulation
• Realistic airport environment for hands-on cybersecurity training
• Part of the 5th pan-European cyber crisis exercise
• Enhanced participant engagement through physical infrastructure

Departures Hall

Transfers Hall

du Hackathon marked the inception of echoCTF's physical diorama-based cybersecurity competitions, setting a new standard for interactive learning and engagement.

• 2014: Debut of the first smart city diorama in a CTF competition
• 2016: Introduction of echoCiTy-F with over 200 hackable elements
• Simulated control over trains, power grids, airports, and more
• Real-time visualizations for participants and spectators
• Top team awarded AED 20,000 and participation certificates

echoCiTy-F's Debut

Visuals from Attacks

Explaining echoCiTy-F

du Hackathon 2014 Dubai

du Hackathon 2014 Diorama

Awarding echoCTF Team

Network Traffic Visuals

1st Place Winners

2016 Diorama

Night View of echoCiTy-F

Construction Site

Showcasing echoCTF