Escape Room

About the Event

Escape Room is a team-based digital investigation challenge built around a simulated cybersecurity incident. Participants will work together to uncover clues, recover system credentials, investigate digital evidence, identify the individual responsible for the incident, and ultimately restore the compromised system.

The event combines physical and visual puzzles, digital investigation, logical reasoning, and interactive system-recovery challenges to create an immersive cybersecurity escape-room experience.

Guidelines

• The event is open to students from all colleges and universities.
• Participation is team-based.
• Each team must consist of exactly 4 members.
• Inter-college teams are allowed.
• Students from different branches/specializations may form a team.
• No prior programming, cybersecurity, or technical knowledge is required.
• A valid college ID is mandatory for every team member and must be presented during check-in.
• Participants must report 15 minutes before their allotted slot.
• Registration will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to slot availability.
• Registration fee is ₹300 per team.
• Maximum capacity is 24 teams, with 6 teams accommodated in each slot.
• Participants must select their preferred slot during registration, subject to availability.

Event Format

The event will be conducted offline at RV University campus across 2 computer labs and 1 classroom.

The event consists of a single continuous session of approximately 1 hour 15 minutes per slot, with teams progressing sequentially through three stages.

Stage 1 – Credential Recovery

Teams will solve physical and visual puzzles to recover the credentials required to access the simulated system.

Stage 2 – Digital Investigation

Teams will investigate a simulated security incident using the available digital evidence. Their objective is to analyze the evidence, identify relevant clues, and determine the individual responsible for the incident.

Stage 3 – System Recovery

Teams will complete a series of interactive system-recovery challenges to restore the compromised system and bring it back online.

Available Slots

Slot 1: 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM

Slot 2: 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Slot 3: 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Slot 4: 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM

Each slot can accommodate a maximum of 6 teams.

The exact scoring methodology and applicable penalties will be explained to participants by the organizing team before the event/challenge begins.

Judging Criteria

Teams will be evaluated based on their performance throughout the challenge, including:

• Successful completion of the assigned stages
• Accuracy of the investigation
• Correct identification of the responsible individual
• Successful completion of system-recovery challenges
• Time taken to complete the challenge
• Any applicable penalties for incorrect attempts or rule violations

The complete scoring methodology and applicable penalties will be briefed to participants on the day of the event.

Rules

• Each team must consist of exactly 4 members.
• A valid college ID must be presented by every team member during check-in.
• Teams must report 15 minutes before their allotted slot.
• Late arrival may result in forfeiture of the allotted slot.
• Participants must follow all instructions provided by the organizing team and volunteers.
• Participants must maintain proper decorum throughout the event.
• Participants must not damage, tamper with, or misuse any props, equipment, computer systems, or event stations.
• Participants must not intentionally interfere with another team's activity.
• Teams must complete the challenge within their allotted slot.
• Any attempt to obtain an unfair advantage or bypass the intended challenge mechanism may result in disqualification.
• The organizers reserve the right to impose penalties for violations of event rules.
• Participants must immediately report any technical issue or damaged equipment to the organizers.
• The decisions of the organizing team/volunteers will be final and binding.

Prizes

Winning Team of Each Slot: ₹2,000

With four slots, the total prize pool is:

₹8,000

A Winner Certificate will be awarded to the winning team of each slot.

Important Information

• Date: 25 September 2026
• Mode: Offline
• Venue: RV University Campus
• Team Size: Exactly 4 members
• Registration Fee: ₹300 per team
• Registration Deadline: 22 September 2026
• Maximum Capacity: 24 teams
• Number of Slots: 4
• Teams per Slot: Maximum 6
• Prior Technical Knowledge: Not required

Participants must carry their valid college ID and report 15 minutes before their allotted slot.