TryHackMe is built around learning by doing. To keep the competitive ranks and features fair for everyone who puts in the work, we've introduced a smarter way to detect when answers are submitted without any meaningful interaction with the target machine.
If you're learning honestly, you have nothing to worry about!
How It Works
When you submit a correct answer, TryHackMe checks whether you actually engaged with the target machine, for questions where that's expected. Your activity (commands run, HTTP requests, network traffic) is compared against a baseline built from legitimate completions of that same question.
If your activity falls below the minimum threshold across all signals, points for that specific question are withheld. The check runs in milliseconds alongside answer validation, so you won't notice any delay.
What This Is (and Isn't)
This is not a ban, an account penalty, or anything that affects room completion. Only the points for the affected question are withheld. Badges, streaks, and completion status are unaffected.
FAQs
Will I know if my points were withheld?
Will I know if my points were withheld?
For walkthroughs, points will still be shown in the congratulations screen after completing a room. For challenges, you can also track this in the chart and scoreboard within the rooms.
Does this affect room completion or badges?
Does this affect room completion or badges?
No. Only the points for the specific question are withheld.
I'm a beginner, will I be penalised for not doing things "perfectly"?
I'm a beginner, will I be penalised for not doing things "perfectly"?
No. The threshold catches users showing no meaningful interaction, not users who are learning or exploring. Genuinely engaging with the machine is expected, so you won't be penalised for that.
Can I still use a writeup?
Can I still use a writeup?
Absolutely. Writeups are a valuable part of how the community learns together. The key is to actually follow the steps on the machine rather than just copying the answers - that hands-on interaction is exactly what the system looks for.
What if I use my own VPN, will I still get points?
What if I use my own VPN, will I still get points?
Using your own machine via VPN is completely fine. As long as you're genuinely interacting with the target, the system works the same way - your activity is evaluated against the same baseline and points are awarded as normal.
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