A friend who loves programming and cybersecurity is getting married, and I'm planning his bucks night even though I'm not very technical. I'd like to include a scavenger hunt where he solves simple challenges in a fake, harmless program to unlock the next clue. I realize anything I make will probably be easy for him, so I'm mainly looking for ideas, beginner-friendly tools, or advice on how to structure the activity without needing advanced hacking knowledge.
3 Answers
I’d make the hacking challenge just one part of a larger scavenger hunt rather than the entire event. Watching one person work through a technical puzzle can become slow for everyone else, especially if the answer takes longer than expected. A short, easy challenge keeps the guest of honor involved without taking over the party.
The easiest approach would be to start with an existing open-source puzzle or simple web page and personalize the clues, passwords, and theme. If you don’t feel comfortable building it yourself, you could also ask a developer friend to make a small custom version. Keep it deliberately contained and fictional so nobody is interacting with real systems.
A simple setup would be a local HTML page with a message such as “Enter the password to reveal the next clue.” The page can contain a small JavaScript puzzle, with the answer discoverable by inspecting the code. Once the correct password is entered, it displays the next location. Use a basic substitution, hidden word, or small logic puzzle rather than anything resembling real exploitation, and test it beforehand so the challenge only takes a few minutes.
Keep a backup version of the next clue ready in case the page fails or he solves it instantly. The goal is a fun party moment, not a difficult technical assessment.
That sounds like the best balance. You can let everyone help search for the physical clues while he handles the computer puzzle.