The first step involves identifying the file type and verifying its integrity.

: If an executable is present, load it into Ghidra or IDA Pro . Analyze the logic—specifically where it handles input or "victory" conditions—to find where the flag is generated or stored in memory. 4. Extracting the Flag

: Use the file command to confirm it is a standard ZIP archive.

: Use these tools to see if other files are embedded inside the extracted files. For example, a PNG file might actually have a ZIP appended to the end of it.

Checking the archive's structure often reveals clues about the challenge type (e.g., steganography or forensics).