Hack Santa’s List

An insider Elf informed you that you are on Santa’s Naughty List. You may not get your gift this Christmas! Show Santa how naughty you can really be. Hack Santa’s List. Covertly move your name to the Nice List. Claim your gift. Run!

REGISTER
Santa’s Encrypted Naughty List

Naughtiest Hacker on the List!

Are you the reason Santa has a Naughty List? Then you are The One we are looking for! Showcase your cipher skills. Hack that list. Claim the gift you so rightfully deserve.

Santa's Encrypted Naughty List
Brute-force that encrypted list

Hidden deep in the North Pole servers is the encrypted Naughty List, guarded by Santa’s most advanced ciphers. Your are on the list, and your mission is to:

  • Brute-force the encryption to reveal the plaintext.
  • Identify the cipher and the language used (because Santa might have multilingual elves!).
  • Upload your decryption code for expert review.

If your program cracks the code and impresses the panel of merry cryptography experts, you’ll earn your rightful place back on the Nice List, along with epic bragging rights and maybe even a belated gift!

Take me to the Encrypted Lists

CHOOSE YOUR TECH

Classical or Quantum

Whether you wield the power of traditional silicon or the magic of qubits, the choice is yours. Break ciphers, make history!

CLASSICAL

Hack using Classical algorithms

Craft classical cipher-cracking spells on your trusty computer, decrypt, and brute-force your way through puzzles like a festive code wizard.

  • Pick your favorite programming language — whether it’s Python, Java, C++, Go, or even something more magical.
  • Submit your code for review to our panel of expert elves who will evaluate it based on logic, efficiency, and creativity. Hackathon Phases explained.
  • The results will be unwrapped on January 1, 2026. Kick off the New Year with more celebrations, bragging rights, and who knows, maybe even a surprise gift from Santa!
SEE EVALUATION CRITERIA
QUANTUM

Quantum Computer

Leverage the power of qubits & quantum algorithms to outsmart ciphers and decrypt the Naughty List with a futuristic flair!

  • Harness the holiday quantum magic with tools from IBM Quantum, Google Quantum AI, Amazon Braket, or Microsoft Azure Quantum.
  • Submit your quantum program to the panel of experts, where your code will be judged for its brilliance, efficiency, and how well it jingles the holiday spirit.
  • The Leaderboard will be published on January 1, 2026. Claim your bragging rights. Let the elves marvel at your quantum genius because breaking Ciphers is merrier with Quantum.
SEE EVALUATION CRITERIA

Evaluation Criteria

In this holly jolly hackathon, your programs will be judged under two separate categories: Classical programs go into the red sock, and programs that harness the magic of Quantum Computing are stuffed into the green sock. Rest assured, we won’t compare apples to snowflakes — classical programs will compete only with other classical entries, while quantum creations will shine in their own starry sky.

  • Performance: Does your program deliver presents (results) swiftly and with minimal reindeer power (resources like CPU/memory)?
  • Logic & Correctness: Is your algorithm leading Santa to the right house (solving the cipher correctly), or did you get lost in the snowstorm?
  • Innovation: Did you add a sprinkle of Christmas magic (creative approaches) to your code? Bonus points for clever shortcuts and elegant tricks!
  • Code Readability: Is your code like neatly wrapped presents or a tangled mess of lights? Judges love clear variable names, comments, and tidy formatting!
  • Scalability: Can your program handle a bigger Naughty List without your sleigh breaking down?
  • Error Handling: Does your program gracefully recover if it hits a chimney (unexpected input) or crash like a clumsy elf?

  • Execution Efficiency: Is your quantum program optimizing qubits and gates to get Santa across the multiverse quickly and efficiently?
  • Algorithm Accuracy: Does your quantum sleigh correctly unwrap the cipher, or is it stuck in a quantum superposition of "Oops" and "Almost"?
  • Creativity & Innovation: Have you used quantum principles like entanglement or superposition in a way that would make even the Grinch smile?
  • Code Organization: Is your quantum program’s structure like a perfectly decorated tree or a garbled strand of holiday lights? Judges appreciate well-structured circuits and clear annotations.
  • Scalability: Can your program break larger and more complex ciphers, or will it get entangled in its own qubits?
  • Error Mitigation: Does your program handle decoherence and noise like a pro, or does it lose track of the North Pole mid-flight?

Reindeers guarding the Naughty List

Santa’s loyal reindeers use the these ciphers to gaurd the naughty list. A solid grasp on knowing how to crack these ciphers is all you need to conquer the hackathon.

Caesar Cipher
Reverse Cipher

The easiest trick in the book — just flip the text backwards! But don’t be fooled; sometimes the simplest ciphers hide the juiciest secrets.

Caesar Cipher
Caesar Cipher

Shift your way to the truth! Named after Julius Caesar himself, this cipher involves sliding letters left or right. Will you march through this ancient encryption?

Transposition Cipher
Transposition Cipher

Jumbled columns, anyone? Rearrange the text by columns and rows like a cryptic holiday crossword puzzle. Can you unscramble Santa’s hidden notes?

Affine Cipher
Affine Cipher

A mathematical twist with a sprinkle of magic — this cipher encrypts messages with multiplication and addition. Can you crack the festive math equation?



Simple Substitution Cipher
Substitution Cipher

The naughty reindeer replaced each letter with another. It’s like musical chairs for the alphabet. Can you put the right letters back in their place?

Vigenère Cipher
Vigenère Cipher

A clever cipher named after a Renaissance cryptographer. It shifts letters using a secret word. Can you crack it and make history merry and bright?

One-Time Pad Cipher
One-Time Pad

The ultimate in list security! Using a key as long as the message itself, this unbreakable cipher is no joke. Are you up for the ultimate holiday challenge?

Public Key Cipher
Public Key Cipher

Modern magic straight from the cryptography workshop! This cipher uses two keys: one to lock and another to unlock. Can you decode it’s secrets?

Journey to the Nice List

Hackathon Phases explained

Every great hackathon needs a roadmap, and yours begins here. This festive adventure is divided into four exciting phases designed to guide you from puzzled to powerful.

First, you’ll decode the challenge in Phase 1, then flex your coding muscles in Phase 2, and finally, showcase your skills in Phase 3.

In (optional) Phase 4, the ultimate showdown begins as you compete in a thrilling live tournament, racing against other participants to break ciphers in real-time and claim the top spot.

.
Completed

Phase 1
Understand encrypted list

LEARN & DESIGN

Weekdays

Dec 1st - Dec 9th

In this phase, we’ll help you crack the mystery of the Naughty List with:

Completed

Phase 2
Elves Build & Test programs

BUILD & TEST

Weekdays

Dec 10th - Dec 23rd

In the Build Phase, you’ll craft, refine, and test your brute-force program using all the cryptographic magic you’ve acquired in Phase 1.

Whether you hit a roadblock or need a guiding star, our support elves are ready to help you every step of the way.

Show Santa you mean business!

Completed

Phase 3
Sleigh the Judges

SUBMIT CODE

Weekdays

Dec 24th

Submit your code to Santa’s expert panel for review, where they’ll test your skills and check for originality. If the experts are intrigued, they might call you for a one-on-one chat to discuss your masterpiece.

Impress them, and you’ll sleigh your way to redemption, fame, and maybe even a gift from Santa!

Phase 3 is your golden ticket to the Leaderboard — mandatory for all aspiring Nice List graduates.

Phase 4, the Live Tournament, is optional, but oh, what a sleigh ride of excitement awaits if you dare to join!

Completed

Phase 4
Hacking Tournament

TOURNAMENT

Weekdays

Dec 25th

Phase 4 takes the excitement to a whole new level with a live tournament where the best of the best face off.

Break ciphers faster than your fellow codebreakers to prove your skills in real time. It’s a battle of wits, speed, and mastery, with every second counting.

Will you outsmart the competition and claim ultimate bragging rights? Or will you crack under the pressure?

Either way, it’s going to be a thrilling ride full of surprises! Know more.

THE NAUGHTY LIST

The Naughty List

The first batch of Naughty List will be published on Dec 01, 2025.

As the days roll on, we’ll be releasing more lists - each one more challenging than the last.

The more you hack, the more test cases you’ll have to refine and perfect your cipher-cracking genius. Every download is a step closer to proving your skills and showing Santa you belong on the Nice List.

TOURNAMENT

Tournament
THE GREAT CIPHER SHOWDOWN

(OPTIONAL)

DEC 25, 2025

Feeling adventurous after submitting your code in Phase 3? Join us on Dec 25th for the live tournament where Ace Hackers go head-to-head in a pulse-pounding race against time to crack ciphers! It’s exhilarating, heart-racing, and full of festive fun.

While participation is totally optional and doesn’t impact the Phase 3 Leaderboard (this one has its own bragging rights!), we highly encourage you to jump in for the sheer thrill of it. After all, what’s Christmas without a little high-stakes hacking cheer?

Learn the Art of Cracking Ciphers (using Python) this Christmas

Learn to Hack this Christmas

Our free workshops, running throughout the event, will teach you the basics of cryptography and how to make and break ciphers in Python. No prior knowledge is required—just bring your curiosity and your holiday spirit to the class! See Workshop Schedule.

  • Basics of Cryptography: Dive into the world of secret messages! Learn what cryptography is, why it’s important, and how to get started with the fundamentals.

  • Programming Language: Our workshops will be conducted in Python, but for the Hackathon, feel free to use any programming language that fits your festive coding spirit and gets you to the finish line!

  • Encryption, Decryption, and Brute-force: Learn to encrypt, decrypt, and brute-force your way through the ciphers used in this hackathon.

  • Detecting the Plaintext Language: Ever wondered how to identify a text’s original language automatically? We’ll teach you how to build this magical skill using Python.

  • Writing Scripts for Automated Testing: Learn how to write Python scripts to test your code efficiently and save time while debugging like a true hacker.

    • SEE WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Bragging Rights & Santa’s Secret Surprises

Who doesn’t love a little festive flex? Participate in this hackathon, and you could earn the ultimate bragging rights as a master codebreaker!

Whether you’re topping the Leaderboard or impressing friends, colleagues, and even strangers on the internet with your quantum wizardry, your triumphs won’t just make headlines in the North Pole — they’ll make YOU the holiday hero.

Plus, rumor has it Santa might have a secret gift up his red velvet sleeve for those who truly impress. It could be something shiny, techy, or just downright magical (we’re talking next-level Christmas cheer).

So, gear up and claim what’s rightfully yours: glory, gifts, and eternal hacker fame!

Bragging Rights

Who’s eligible to join the Hackathon Fun?

Eligibility Criteria
  • Age is just a number: If you’re between 13 and 113, you’re in. (If you’re over 113, you’re probably Santa himself! Drop us a line anyway.)

  • Students and professionals, unite! Whether you’re in school, college, or climbing the corporate ladder, there’s a spot for you. P.S. Students and professionals will be judged in their own sleigh lanes.

  • From any corner of the globe: Live in a winter wonderland or a tropical paradise? Doesn't matter — if you can code, you’re good to go!

  • All genders welcome: Santa’s workshop doesn’t discriminate, and neither do we. Let’s celebrate diversity, one line of code at a time.

  • Classical or Quantum magic: Whether you’re conjuring ciphers with classical programs or dancing with quantum ones, your skills will shine in their own categories.

Schedule

Mark your dates, sharpen your skills, and get all your questions answered — Santa’s schedule is packed with festive learning and fun just for you.

Session Title Date Timing Action
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 03
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST)
JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 04 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP   Introduction to Cryptography:
Encryption, Decryption, and Bruteforce 		Dec 04
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (IST)
JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 05 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  Caesar Cipher: Encryption & Decryption, and Bruteforce Dec 05 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 06 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  Columnar Transposition Cipher: Encryption & Decryption, and Bruteforce Dec 06 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 07 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 08 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 09 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon + Demo on how to break Ciphers. Dec 11 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 12 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  The Affine Cipher Dec 12 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 13 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  Simple Substitution Cipher: Encryption, Decryption, and Bruteforce. Dec 13 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  Vigenère Cipher: Encryption & Decryption, and Bruteforce Dec 14 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Special Sunday Town Hall Dec 15 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  Writing programs to test programs. Automate Testing. Dec 16 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 17 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  Detecting Language used in a Cipher programmatically. Dec 17 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 18 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  The One-Time Pad Cipher Dec 18 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 19 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  Finding and Generating Prime Numbers.
Generating keys for the Public Key Cipher. 		Dec 19 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
WORKSHOP  Programming the Public Key Cipher Dec 19 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 20 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 21 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 22 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
AMA Ask me anything about the Hackathon Dec 23 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (IST) JOIN THE CALL
DEADLINE  Submit your code Dec 24 00:00 AM - 11:59 PM (IST) SUBMIT
TOURNAMENT  Join the Tournament Dec 25 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM (IST) JOIN THE GAMES!
LEADERBOARD Winners will be announced on Jan 01, 2026. Jan 01, 2026

Celebrations Galore!

Celebrations!

JAN 01, 2026

The results will be announced on Jan 01, 2026, and the coveted Leaderboard will be unveiled right here on our website. Celebrate your cryptographic triumphs as we honor your success with well-deserved bragging rights and, who knows, maybe even a special surprise from Santa himself!

Questions?

If you’re 13 or older, love coding, and have a knack for cracking ciphers, you’re welcome to join. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or Santa’s undercover elf, this Hackathon is for anyone excited to spread holiday cheer through hacking.

Our workshops will be held in Python to help sharpen your skills, but when it’s crunch time, you’re free to use any programming language that makes your coding heart sing. From Java to JavaScript, C to C++, Go, Scheme, Haskell, Lisp, Rust, or even a sprinkle of ARM - we won’t stop your holiday magic.

Absolutely! Whether you’re a lone coder or a group of up to 4 holiday hackers, there’s a spot for you. Remember, individuals compete with individuals, and teams compete with teams. The option to provide your team details will be open during the submission phase.

We’ve chosen ciphers that Santa’s reindeers fiercely guard (like Caesar, Vigenère, and more). Don’t worry, there’s no naughty surprises — just the ciphers listed in the event details. Be prepared to break one, a few, or even all of them! See all ciphers.

Nope! Entry to the Naughty List Hackathon is as free as Santa’s sleigh ride on Christmas Eve. Your only investment is your time, passion, and holiday spirit.

Other than bragging rights for being on Santa’s Nice List, there may be special goodies for the winners. And don’t forget, Girl Hackers may even get a little extra sparkle to promote inclusivity. But the real reward is the thrill of cracking codes and spreading holiday cheer!

Santa’s elves are here to assist. Get all your questions answered in the AMA sessions & Workshops. See schedule.

You can also drop us a festive email at connect@acehacker.com or call us at (+91) 988.011.2117. If the North Pole lines are busy, email is the fastest way to get through.

No worries - Christmas magic is about trying, not perfection! Even if you don’t finish, submitting what you’ve worked on can still earn you feedback and cheer from our judges. Remember, participation itself is a gift to your skills and the holiday spirit.

The live tournament will be held on December 25th, right from the comfort of your own coding desk. It’s an optional head-to-head cipher-cracking race against the clock, filled with holiday thrills. So, if you’re looking for an exhilarating way to spend Christmas Day, don’t miss it!

Santa’s all for leveraging smart tools to spread cheer and make life easier. However, remember that your submission should reflect your skills and creativity. Using tools for guidance is fine, but the true holiday magic lies in the code you write yourself.

Also remember, if your code gets selected, the Judges may schedule an online call with you to discuss your source code. As long as you can confidently explain your logic and satisfy their questions, you’re good to go. So, whether you used ChatGPT or not, what truly matters is that you know your stuff, and the Judges see your brilliance!

Letters to the North Pole

Lost in the maze of ciphers or stuck on a tricky problem? Write to Santa’s helpers, and our expert elves will swoop in to assist you.

Contact Ace Hacker

Send us a message

Email: connect@acehacker.com

Call: (+91) 988.011.2117