LONDON, UK: Tripwire, Inc. has announced a multi-tiered virtual Capture the Flag cyber security competition. The contest gives contestants an opportunity to apply penetration testing and analytical skills in a real-world cyber security scenario. The competition will take place March 27-30, 2015.
As cyber security issues have taken center stage around the globe, organizations are struggling with a worldwide shortage of information security experts. To meet this growing demand, cyber security experts need both theoretical and practical education opportunities. Tripwire’s contest seeks to inspire and mentor current and future cyber security experts as well as provide an opportunity to learn new skills that will make them more competitive in the global job market.
Tripwire’s award-winning Vulnerability and Exposure Research Team (VERT) will host the competition. The grand prize winner will receive BSides Las Vegas and DEF CON 23 badges, two lunch tickets for the BSides Chill-Out café, accommodation at the Tuscany Suites & Casino in Las Vegas between August 3-5, 2015, and a $500 gift card for travel expenses. Sponsors for the contest include Independent Security Evaluators (ISE) and BSides Las Vegas.
Additional prizes for the competition include:
DEF CON 24 human badge.
WiFi Pineapple Mark V Tactical kit.
Ubertooth One test tool.
“In recent years the demand for skilled security analysts has skyrocketed far beyond the supply. Although many students want to learn about security from all sides, universities tend to focus on the defensive aspects of security while categorizing offensive security knowledge as a black art. These skills go hand in hand, and security conferences such as DEF CON give researchers an opportunity to share this knowledge openly. The competition will have something for everyone, with several flags of increasing difficulty. Students who are looking to walk away with the grand prize should brush up on common web vulnerabilities, encoding techniques and back-end technologies that are prevalent on the Internet," says Craig Young, security researcher at Tripwire and winner of DEFCON 22s SOHOpelessly Broken router hacking contes.
"Security BSides Las Vegas is happy to announce our sponsorship of Tripwire VERT’s cybersecurity Capture the Flag contest. We thank our longtime friends and sponsors at Tripwire for offering us the opportunity to help advance the craft of cybersecurity through this event, remarks Jack Daniel, co-founder of Security BSides
"Capture the Flag contests are a great way for students interested in security to apply what they've learned in the classroom to a real-world challenge. Companies like ISE value this type of experience when hiring because it can speak to both technical skills as well as desired soft skills like discipline, motivation and problem solving,"concludes Lisa Green, industry relations manager for Independent Security Evaluators.