OPS//PLAY: You’re Not Reading About Hacking. You’re Hacking.
CTF ZINE SERIES
Hello! I have been working on a zine series for the cyber security community and I am excited to release the first 3 zines for the OPS//PLAY series!! EDIT: I developed additional content for those who want more hands-on practice.
May 13th 2026 EDIT: We are live on Gumroad!
All links have been updated.
The internet has enough passive content.
Enough tutorials you forget. Enough theory you never apply. Enough “learn cybersecurity” posts that never make you do the work.
OPS//PLAY is different.
This is a gamified zine series built for operators—people who learn by breaking things, solving puzzles, and chasing signals through noise. Each issue drops you into a scenario and forces you to think, act, and adapt.
No fluff. No spectators.
You play. Or you fall behind.
Issue #01 — HASH HUNT
Every system leaves fingerprints.
This issue is about tracking them down.
You’ll hunt through hashed data, identify algorithms, and start understanding how real-world systems obscure and reveal information.
This is where most people realize:
Hashing isn’t just theory. It’s a battlefield.
Core Skills
Hash identification (MD5, SHA families, etc.)
Basic cracking strategies
Data integrity concepts
Forensic thinking
Issue #02 — PORT RECON
Before you exploit anything, you map the terrain.
This issue drops you into reconnaissance mode. You’ll learn how systems expose themselves, how to interpret signals, and how to build a mental model of a target environment.
This is where operators are separated from amateurs.
Core Skills
Port scanning concepts
Service identification
Recon workflows
Target mapping mindset
Issue #03 — CIPHER RUN
You’re dropped into a live signal environment.
Encrypted traffic. Fragmented data. Patterns buried under noise.
This issue is about speed, intuition, and breaking ciphers under pressure.
You’re not just decoding—you’re racing the clock, identifying weak points, and exploiting them before the trail goes cold.
Core Skills
Pattern recognition under pressure
Cipher identification and breakdown
Rapid decoding workflows
Signal vs noise filtering
Why OPS//PLAY Exists
Most people consume cybersecurity content.
Very few practice it.
OPS//PLAY is built on a simple idea:
You don’t learn this domain by reading.
You learn it by engaging with it.
Each zine is:
A self-contained challenge environment
A progressive skill ladder
A hands-on experience you can complete in one sitting or revisit
No installs. No complex setup. Just you and the problem.
Who This Is For
Builders who want practical reps
Analysts who want sharper instincts
Beginners who hate passive learning
Operators who want to stay dangerous
If you’ve ever thought:
“I understand this… but I don’t feel confident doing it.”
This series fixes that.
The Drop
The first three issues are live:
HASH HUNT (01) — Learn to track and break hashes
PORT RECON (02) — Map systems like an operator
CIPHER RUN (03) — Decode under pressure
More are coming. Each one gets harder. Each one expects more from you.
Final Note
You can scroll past this.
Or you can step in and test yourself.
Because the difference between knowing and doing?
Is everything.
Thank you to the friends who encouraged me to produce this for the community! Special thanks to Tayttum & Taylor for keeping me sane and providing feedback! - Jeremy