: Use exiftool to check for unusual metadata (e.g., author names, timestamps, or hidden comments). 3. Archive Analysis & Extraction
The first step in any file-based challenge is to verify the file type and integrity.
: Use the file command to confirm it is a valid ZIP archive.
: For executable files, use binwalk to check for embedded files or CyberChef to decode suspected Base64, ROT13, or XOR-encoded strings. 5. Flag Capture