diff --git a/ansible/runonce/pui.yml b/ansible/runonce/pui.yml
index 0693b87cd..9a160fca8 100755
--- a/ansible/runonce/pui.yml
+++ b/ansible/runonce/pui.yml
@@ -351,9 +351,23 @@
 
   - name: "Create participant/config/db.php"
     copy:
-      content: "<?php return [ 'class' => 'yii\\db\\Connection', 'dsn' => 'mysql:host={{db_ip}};dbname=echoCTF', 'username' => 'participantUI', 'password' => 'participantUI', 'charset' => 'utf8mb4','enableSchemaCache' => true, 'schemaCacheDuration' => 60,'schemaCache' => 'cache',];\n"
       dest: "/home/participantUI/{{domain_name}}/frontend/config/db.php"
       mode: '0444'
+      content: |
+        <?php
+          return [
+            'class' => 'yii\\db\\Connection',
+            'dsn' => 'mysql:host={{db_ip}};dbname=echoCTF',
+            'username' => 'participantUI',
+            'password' => 'participantUI',
+            'charset' => 'utf8mb4',
+            'enableSchemaCache' => true,
+            'schemaCacheDuration' => 0,
+            'schemaCache' => 'cache',
+            'enableQueryCache'=>true,
+            'queryCache'=>'qcache',
+            'queryCacheDuration'=>60,
+          ];
     tags:
       - conf
 
diff --git a/backend/migrations/m241110_214630_from_v0_25_0_to_v1_0_0.php b/backend/migrations/m241110_214630_from_v0_25_0_to_v1_0_0.php
index 4a5c463f8..7cd632d26 100644
--- a/backend/migrations/m241110_214630_from_v0_25_0_to_v1_0_0.php
+++ b/backend/migrations/m241110_214630_from_v0_25_0_to_v1_0_0.php
@@ -17,6 +17,55 @@ public function safeUp()
         $this->upsert('init_data',['version'=>'m241108_100648_populate_default_sysconfig_keys','apply_time'=>time()]);
         // add missing url routes
       }
+
+      // describe SELECT * FROM `treasure` WHERE `target_id`=13 ORDER BY `weight` DESC, `id` DESC;
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `query-index` ON treasure (target_id,weight,id)')->execute();
+
+      // describe SELECT * FROM `headshot` WHERE `target_id`=13 ORDER BY `created_at`;
+      // SELECT `headshot`.* FROM `headshot` LEFT JOIN `player` ON `headshot`.`player_id` = `player`.`id` WHERE (`player`.`status`=10) AND (`headshot`.`target_id`=13) ORDER BY `created_at` DESC LIMIT 50
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `query-index` ON headshot (target_id,created_at)')->execute();
+
+      // SELECT * FROM `network_target_schedule` WHERE (`target_id`=13) ORDER BY `migration_date`, `network_id` LIMIT 1;
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `query-index` ON network_target_schedule (target_id,migration_date,network_id)')->execute();
+
+      // SELECT * FROM `notification` WHERE (`archived`=0) AND (`player_id`=21)
+      // SELECT `id`, `title`, `category`, `body`, `created_at`, `archived` FROM `notification` WHERE (`player_id`=21) AND (`archived`=0) ORDER BY `created_at` DESC, `id` DESC
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `query-index` ON notification (player_id,archived,created_at,id)')->execute();
+
+      // SELECT * FROM `writeup` WHERE (approved=1) AND (`target_id`=13) ORDER BY `created_at`
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `query-index` ON writeup (target_id,approved,created_at)')->execute();
+
+      // describe SELECT COUNT(*) FROM `stream` LEFT JOIN `player` ON `stream`.`player_id` = `player`.`id` WHERE ((((`model_id`=24) AND (`model`='finding')) OR ((`model_id` IN (86, 85, 84, 83)) AND (`model`='treasure'))) OR ((`model_id`=13) AND (`model`='headshot'))) AND (`academic`=0);
+      // SELECT `stream`.*, TS_AGO(stream.ts) AS `ts_ago` FROM `stream` LEFT JOIN `player` ON `stream`.`player_id` = `player`.`id` WHERE ((((`model_id`=24) AND (`model`='finding')) OR ((`model_id` IN (86, 85, 84, 83)) AND (`model`='treasure'))) OR ((`model_id`=13) AND (`model`='headshot'))) AND (`academic`=0) ORDER BY `stream`.`ts` DESC, `stream`.`id` DESC LIMIT 10
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `query-index` ON stream (ts,id,model_id,model(20))')->execute();
+
+      // SELECT css,js FROM layout_override WHERE (player_id=21 or player_id IS NULL) AND ((NOW() BETWEEN valid_from AND valid_until) OR (repeating=1 AND NOW() BETWEEN DATE_FORMAT(valid_from,CONCAT(YEAR(NOW()),'-%m-%d')) AND DATE_FORMAT(valid_until,CONCAT(YEAR(NOW()),'-%m-%d'))))
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `query-index` ON layout_override (player_id,valid_from,valid_until,repeating)')->execute();
+
+      // SELECT COUNT(*) FROM `network` WHERE `active`=1
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `count-active-network` ON network (active)')->execute();
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `idx-network-weight` ON network (weight)')->execute();
+
+      // SELECT * FROM `question` WHERE `challenge_id`=1 ORDER BY `weight`, `id`
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `order-query-index` ON question (`challenge_id`,`weight`,`id`)')->execute();
+
+      // SELECT `id`, `name` FROM `vpn_template` WHERE (`active`=TRUE) AND (`visible`=TRUE) AND (`client`=TRUE) ORDER BY `name`
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `query-index` ON vpn_template (active,visible,client,`name`)')->execute();
+
+      // SELECT COUNT(*) FROM `challenge_solver` LEFT JOIN `player` ON `challenge_solver`.`player_id` = `player`.`id` LEFT JOIN `challenge` ON `challenge_solver`.`challenge_id` = `challenge`.`id` WHERE (`player`.`status`=10) AND (`challenge`.`timer`=1) AND (`challenge_solver`.`timer` > 0)
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `idx-timer` ON challenge (`timer`)')->execute();
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `idx-timer` ON challenge_solver (`timer`)')->execute();
+
+
+      // FILESORTS //
+      // SELECT `team`.* FROM `team` LEFT JOIN `team_player` ON `team`.`id` = `team_player`.`team_id` WHERE `academic`=0 GROUP BY `team`.`id` ORDER BY `name`, `approved` DESC, `ts`
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `idx-academic` ON team (`academic`)')->execute();
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `idx-ts` ON team (`ts`)')->execute();
+
+      // SELECT * FROM `team_player` WHERE `team_id` IN (61,  68, 32, 17, 58, 27, 75) ORDER BY `approved` DESC, `ts`
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `idx-approved` ON team_player (`approved`)')->execute();
+      $this->db->createCommand('CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS `idx-ts` ON team_player (`ts`)')->execute();
+
       $this->upsert('sysconfig',['id'=>'platform_version','val'=>'v1.0.0']);
     }
 
diff --git a/contrib/Dockerfile-frontend b/contrib/Dockerfile-frontend
index 321e53c59..e1a2d258d 100644
--- a/contrib/Dockerfile-frontend
+++ b/contrib/Dockerfile-frontend
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ RUN set -ex \
     && cp ${RED_APP}/config/db-local.php ${RED_APP}/config/db.php \
     && chmod a+x /usr/local/bin/composer \
     && sed -ie "s/127.0.0.1/${MYSQL_HOST}/g" ${RED_APP}/config/cache.php \
-    && echo "<?php return [ 'class' => 'yii\db\Connection', 'dsn' => 'mysql:host=${MYSQL_HOST};dbname=${MYSQL_DATABASE}', 'username' => '${MYSQL_USER}', 'password' => '${MYSQL_PASSWORD}', 'charset' => 'utf8mb4',  ];">${RED_APP}/config/db.php \
+    && echo "<?php return [ 'class' => 'yii\db\Connection', 'dsn' => 'mysql:host=${MYSQL_HOST};dbname=${MYSQL_DATABASE}', 'username' => '${MYSQL_USER}', 'password' => '${MYSQL_PASSWORD}', 'charset' => 'utf8mb4','enableSchemaCache' => true,'schemaCacheDuration' => 0,'schemaCache' => 'cache','enableQueryCache' => true,'queryCache'=>'qcache','queryCacheDuration'=>60,];">${RED_APP}/config/db.php \
     && mkdir -p ${RED_APP}/web/assets ${RED_APP}/runtime ${RED_APP}/web/images/avatars/team ${RED_APP}/web/uploads\
     && chown -R www-data ${RED_APP}/web/assets ${RED_APP}/web/images/avatars \
     && chown www-data ${RED_APP}/runtime ${RED_APP}/web/uploads \
diff --git a/frontend/config/db-local.php b/frontend/config/db-local.php
index 9bca3150c..dc01f3ef2 100644
--- a/frontend/config/db-local.php
+++ b/frontend/config/db-local.php
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@
     'username' => 'root',
     'password' => '',
     'charset' => 'utf8mb4',
-    'enableProfiling'=>true,
+    //'enableProfiling'=>false,
     //'enableParamLogging'=>true,
     // Schema cache options (for production environment)
     'enableSchemaCache' => true,
-    'schemaCacheDuration' => 3600*24,
+    'schemaCacheDuration' => 0,
     'schemaCache' => 'cache',
     'enableQueryCache' => true,
     'queryCache'=>'qcache',
diff --git a/frontend/models/NotificationQuery.php b/frontend/models/NotificationQuery.php
index d3c18112b..6b778fdcd 100644
--- a/frontend/models/NotificationQuery.php
+++ b/frontend/models/NotificationQuery.php
@@ -9,38 +9,38 @@
  */
 class NotificationQuery extends \yii\db\ActiveQuery
 {
-    public function my()
-    {
-       return $this->andWhere('[[player_id]]=:player_id',[':player_id'=>\Yii::$app->user->id]);
-    }
+  public function my()
+  {
+    return $this->from([new \yii\db\Expression('{{%notification}} USE INDEX (`query-index`)')])->andWhere('[[player_id]]=:player_id', [':player_id' => \Yii::$app->user->id]);
+  }
 
-    public function pending()
-    {
-        return $this->andWhere('[[archived]]=0');
-    }
+  public function pending()
+  {
+    return $this->andWhere('[[archived]]=0');
+  }
 
-    public function forPlayer($player_id)
-    {
-        return $this->andWhere(['player_id'=>$player_id]);
-    }
-    public function forAjax()
-    {
-        return $this->select(['id', 'title', 'category', 'body', 'created_at', 'archived']);
-    }
+  public function forPlayer($player_id)
+  {
+    return $this->andWhere(['player_id' => $player_id]);
+  }
+  public function forAjax()
+  {
+    return $this->select(['id', 'title', 'category', 'body', 'created_at', 'archived']);
+  }
 
-    /**
-     * @return Notification[]|array
-     */
-    public function all($db=null)
-    {
-        return parent::all($db);
-    }
+  /**
+   * @return Notification[]|array
+   */
+  public function all($db = null)
+  {
+    return parent::all($db);
+  }
 
-    /**
-     * @return Notification|array|null
-     */
-    public function one($db=null)
-    {
-        return parent::one($db);
-    }
+  /**
+   * @return Notification|array|null
+   */
+  public function one($db = null)
+  {
+    return parent::one($db);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/modules/network/models/NetworkTargetScheduleQuery.php b/frontend/modules/network/models/NetworkTargetScheduleQuery.php
index 092f9add4..cc8ba4f9f 100644
--- a/frontend/modules/network/models/NetworkTargetScheduleQuery.php
+++ b/frontend/modules/network/models/NetworkTargetScheduleQuery.php
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class NetworkTargetScheduleQuery extends \yii\db\ActiveQuery
 {
     public function pending()
     {
-        return $this->andWhere('migration_date >= NOW()')->orderBy(['migration_date'=>SORT_ASC,'network_id'=>SORT_ASC]);
+        return $this->orderBy(['migration_date'=>SORT_ASC,'network_id'=>SORT_ASC]);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/frontend/modules/target/controllers/DefaultController.php b/frontend/modules/target/controllers/DefaultController.php
index 3cc621067..60a5a6700 100644
--- a/frontend/modules/target/controllers/DefaultController.php
+++ b/frontend/modules/target/controllers/DefaultController.php
@@ -272,10 +272,13 @@ public function actionView(int $id)
       ->where(['model_id' => $findings, 'model' => 'finding'])
       ->orWhere(['model_id' => $treasures, 'model' => 'treasure'])
       ->orWhere(['model_id' => $id, 'model' => 'headshot']);
-    if (\Yii::$app->user->isGuest) {
-      $model->andWhere(['academic' => 0]);
-    } else {
-      $model->andWhere(['academic' => \Yii::$app->user->identity->academic]);
+    if(\Yii::$app->sys->academic_grouping!==false)
+    {
+      if (\Yii::$app->user->isGuest) {
+        $model->andWhere(['academic' => 0]);
+      } else {
+        $model->andWhere(['academic' => \Yii::$app->user->identity->academic]);
+      }
     }
 
     $dataProvider = new ActiveDataProvider([
diff --git a/schemas/echoCTF.sql b/schemas/echoCTF.sql
index f16a885ea..596a844d5 100644
--- a/schemas/echoCTF.sql
+++ b/schemas/echoCTF.sql
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `challenge` (
   `public` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 1,
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
   UNIQUE KEY `name` (`name`),
+  KEY `idx-timer` (`timer`),
   KEY `idx-challenge-public` (`public`)
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
 
@@ -170,6 +171,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `challenge_solver` (
   PRIMARY KEY (`challenge_id`,`player_id`),
   KEY `idx-challenge_solver-challenge_id` (`challenge_id`),
   KEY `idx-challenge_solver-player_id` (`player_id`),
+  KEY `idx-timer` (`timer`),
   CONSTRAINT `fk-challenge_solver-challenge_id` FOREIGN KEY (`challenge_id`) REFERENCES `challenge` (`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE,
   CONSTRAINT `fk-challenge_solver-player_id` FOREIGN KEY (`player_id`) REFERENCES `player` (`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
@@ -355,6 +357,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `headshot` (
   `rating` smallint(6) DEFAULT -1,
   `first` tinyint(1) DEFAULT 0,
   PRIMARY KEY (`player_id`,`target_id`),
+  KEY `query-index` (`target_id`,`created_at`),
   KEY `idx-headshot-player_id` (`player_id`),
   KEY `idx-headshot-target_id` (`target_id`),
   CONSTRAINT `fk-headshot-player_id` FOREIGN KEY (`player_id`) REFERENCES `player` (`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE,
@@ -493,6 +496,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `layout_override` (
   `repeating` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
   `valid_from` datetime NOT NULL,
   `valid_until` datetime NOT NULL,
+  KEY `query-index` (player_id,valid_from,valid_until, repeating),
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
 
@@ -575,7 +579,8 @@ CREATE TABLE `network` (
   `weight` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
   UNIQUE KEY `name` (`name`),
-  KEY `idx-network-weight` (`weight`)
+  KEY `idx-network-weight` (`weight`),
+  KEY `count-active-network` (`active`)
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
 
 --
@@ -626,6 +631,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `network_target_schedule` (
   `created_at` datetime NOT NULL,
   `updated_at` timestamp NOT NULL DEFAULT current_timestamp() ON UPDATE current_timestamp(),
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
+  KEY `query-index` (`target_id`,`migration_date`,`network_id`),
   KEY `idx-network_target_schedule-target_id` (`target_id`),
   KEY `idx-network_target_schedule-network_id` (`network_id`),
   CONSTRAINT `fk-network_target_schedule-network_id` FOREIGN KEY (`network_id`) REFERENCES `network` (`id`) ON DELETE SET NULL ON UPDATE CASCADE,
@@ -662,6 +668,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `notification` (
   `created_at` datetime DEFAULT NULL,
   `updated_at` datetime DEFAULT NULL,
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
+  KEY `query-index` (player_id,archived,created_at,id),
   KEY `idx-notification-player_id` (`player_id`),
   KEY `idx-notification-archived` (`archived`),
   KEY `idx-notification-category` (`category`),
@@ -1166,6 +1173,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `question` (
   `parent` int(11) DEFAULT 0,
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
   UNIQUE KEY `challenge_id` (`challenge_id`,`name`),
+  KEY `order-query-index` (`challenge_id`,`weight`,`id`),
   CONSTRAINT `question_ibfk_1` FOREIGN KEY (`challenge_id`) REFERENCES `challenge` (`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE ON UPDATE CASCADE
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
 
@@ -1337,6 +1345,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `stream` (
   `pubmessage` mediumtext DEFAULT NULL,
   `ts` timestamp NOT NULL DEFAULT current_timestamp(),
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
+  KEY `query-index` (ts,id,model_id,model(20)),
   KEY `player_id` (`player_id`),
   CONSTRAINT `stream_ibfk_1` FOREIGN KEY (`player_id`) REFERENCES `player` (`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE ON UPDATE CASCADE
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci COMMENT='Information stream for participants and public alike';
@@ -1576,6 +1585,8 @@ CREATE TABLE `team` (
   UNIQUE KEY `name` (`name`),
   UNIQUE KEY `token` (`token`),
   KEY `owner_id` (`owner_id`),
+  KEY `idx-academic` (`academic`),
+  KEY `idx-ts` (`ts`),
   CONSTRAINT `team_ibfk_1` FOREIGN KEY (`owner_id`) REFERENCES `player` (`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE ON UPDATE CASCADE
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
 
@@ -1627,6 +1638,8 @@ CREATE TABLE `team_player` (
   `approved` tinyint(1) DEFAULT 0,
   `ts` timestamp NOT NULL DEFAULT current_timestamp(),
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
+  KEY `idx-approved` (`approved`),
+  KEY `idx-ts` (`ts`),
   UNIQUE KEY `player_id` (`player_id`),
   UNIQUE KEY `team_id` (`team_id`,`player_id`),
   CONSTRAINT `team_player_ibfk_1` FOREIGN KEY (`team_id`) REFERENCES `team` (`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE ON UPDATE CASCADE,
@@ -1704,6 +1717,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `treasure` (
   UNIQUE KEY `code` (`code`),
   KEY `target_id` (`target_id`),
   KEY `idx-treasure-weight` (`weight`),
+  KEY `query-index` (`target_id`,`weight`,`id`),
   CONSTRAINT `treasure_ibfk_1` FOREIGN KEY (`target_id`) REFERENCES `target` (`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE ON UPDATE CASCADE
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci COMMENT='Claimable points by the user, through hidden codes and files';
 
@@ -1842,7 +1856,8 @@ CREATE TABLE `vpn_template` (
   `created_at` datetime DEFAULT NULL,
   `updated_at` datetime DEFAULT NULL,
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
-  UNIQUE KEY `name` (`name`)
+  UNIQUE KEY `name` (`name`),
+  KEY `query-index` (active,visible,client,`name`(60))
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
 
 --
@@ -1864,6 +1879,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `writeup` (
   `id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
   PRIMARY KEY (`player_id`,`target_id`),
   UNIQUE KEY `id` (`id`),
+  KEY `query-index` (target_id,approved,created_at),
   KEY `idx-writeup-player_id` (`player_id`),
   KEY `idx-writeup-target_id` (`target_id`),
   KEY `fk_language_id` (`language_id`),