Messiah’s WiCyS (Women in Cybersecurity) student chapter started an exciting new tradition in October! Operating through Messiah’s Computer Science Club, the group held the University’s first CTF event. CTF’s, or Capture-The-Flag events, are cybersecurity competitions that develop participants’ hacking and problem-solving skills. The challenges involve finding a random string of characters, referred to as the flag, hidden inside a computer system. For this event, the competition involved cryptography, breaking password hashes, using basic Kali Linux tools, and more. The event took place in Messiah’s new, state of the art Cyber Center, and the WiCyS club partnered with the Games Club to provide food, a fun atmosphere, and a great community. They hope to continue these events each semester as the club grows.
