picoCTF: High School Hacking Competition

AI Foundations I Learning Path is live! Learning Paths give learners a new way to explore core concepts through the CyLab Security Academy platform.

This is a non-competitive event, so there is no scoreboard and no need to rush. We are also testing an anonymous social activity feature so learners can see which challenges are drawing the most activity across the release.

After the two-week event, this learning path will move into the main Learning Paths collection.

More learning. Less pressure. Same mission: accessible security and technology education.

should be hands-on, accessible, and built for the learners and educators shaping the future.

That is the mission behind the CyLab Security Academy

We are creating space for students, teachers, and lifelong learners to explore cybersecurity and emerging technology through practice, curiosity, and community.

Follow us for updates, learning resources, events, and new ways to get involved.

Carnegie Mellon University

Some things change. Some things stay the same.

The team that helped grow picoCTF into a global cybersecurity learning community is now expanding that mission through the CyLab Security Academy.

We are continuing our work in cybersecurity education while opening the door to new areas like AI security, blockchain security, and more.

Follow us as we grow the next chapter of accessible security education.

, we are building resources to help make cybersecurity and emerging technology education more accessible, practical, and engaging.

The CyLab Security Academy supports learners through hands-on challenges, classroom tools, learning paths, and events that can help bring security concepts to life.

Follow us for educator resources, platform updates, professional learning opportunities, and classroom-ready ideas.

Curious about but not sure where to start?

The CyLab Security Academy is designed to help learners build skills through hands-on challenges, learning paths, events, and tools that support real practice.

Whether you are brand new or already solving advanced challenges, there is a place for you here.

Follow us for learning tips, challenge highlights, event updates, and ways to keep building your skills. CyLab Security Academy

The CyLab Security Academy is here.

We are building on the team, experience, and global learning community behind picoCTF: High School Hacking Competition, with a broader mission: help learners explore cybersecurity, AI security, blockchain security, and more.

New name. Expanded mission. Same commitment to accessible security education.

Follow us to stay connected with new learning opportunities, platform updates, events, and resources for students, educators, and cybersecurity learners. CyLab Security Academy https://www.cylabacademy.org/

https://learn.cylabacademy.org/get-started

CyLab Security Academy

Before we fade out this page, we want to say Thank you!
For years, picoCTF: High School Hacking Competition has introduced learners around the world to cybersecurity through hands-on challenges and competition.

We continue the mission under a new name:
CyLab Security Academy

The Academy expands beyond competitions into a broader learning platform focused on cybersecurity, AI security (June 2026), blockchain security, and accessible technical education for students, educators, and lifelong learners worldwide.

This is not the end of picoCTF’s mission.
It is the next evolution of it.

Existing picoCTF users can log in with their current credentials and keep all of their progress.

Thank you to every learner, educator, competitor, volunteer, creator, sponsor, and supporter who helped build this community with us.

The next era starts now. Follow us on here and .bsky.social, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

CyLab Security Academy

Quick reminder that the CyLab Security Academy is:

✅ Carnegie Mellon-backed
✅ 500+ challenges
✅ 1M learners
✅ Free

Like, free free. No catches.

You belong here.
https://cylabacademy.org/
https://bsky.app/profile/cylabacademy.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/cylabsecurityacademy/

Join our new socials for updates and announcements as we wind down our old sites- like this one.

CyLab Security Academy A free cybersecurity education program and competition, created by security experts at Carnegie Mellon University.

Change can be difficult, but can be necessary to grow.

Join the team as we evolve to the Security Academy!

You belong here.

Dear PicoCTF followers,

It has been the honor of my life to work with the amazing picoCTF team, which includes Lorrie Cranor, Hanan Hibshi, Megan Kearns, as well as my colleagues, Logan O’Brien, Dante Cannestra, Aadi Jain, and Taylor McCampbell.

I am beholden to everyone I interviewed in our series. Their generosity in sharing expert advice, experiences, and lessons learned are very much appreciated.

Having worked as the RA, interviewer, and social media person for picoCTF has enriched my life in so many ways. It is my hope that during our time together, we at picoCTF were able to share content that added value to your treasure trove of cybersecurity knowledge.

Thank you very much for all your support, feedback, likes, and appreciation for every content we shared.

And as I graduate on May 10th, I will cherish this time together and forever hold the memories in my heart. I promise not to say goodbye. Hopefully, we will touch base again somewhere, sometime soon.

Please remember to follow CyLab Security Academy, as picoCTF is transitioning to this new platform.

Best of luck to all! Let’s keep the momentum going, and make cybersecurity fun!

Sincerely,
Dani Wicklund