UCL Computer Science student secures second place in International Cyber Security Competition

The INCS-CoE, a groundbreaking collaboration of top universities across Japan, the U.S., the U.K., and other nations, serves as a hub for international research collaboration in the field of cyber security.  

The consortium organised the C2C CTF 2023 (Country-to-Country International Capture the Flag) event in Japan, which was designed to foster cyber security expertise among students of member universities. 

The competition's overarching goal is to attract a new wave of cyber security enthusiasts to pursue higher education in the field, with a target of inspiring a million individuals worldwide. By nurturing practical skills and a deep understanding of security principles, the event aims to bolster the global defence against cyber threats. 

Akshita Jain's team made a notable impression in the competition, coming second place in a highly competitive field. Teams competed for points by working through 25 different challenges over 10 hours, including OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence), cryptography, networking, operating systems, reverse engineering, scripting, and penetration testing domains. 

Commenting on the achievement, Akshita said: Participating in the C2C CTF 2023 event was an exceptional and profound experience. Delving into intricate challenges, I felt the pulse and depth of cybersecurity like never before.  

To collaborate with esteemed peers from across the globe offered invaluable insights and reaffirmed my passion for the field. Each task not only tested our knowledge but also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing cyber threats.  

Representing UCL at such a distinguished event was an honour that I hold in high regard. I extend my deepest gratitude to UCL for this unparalleled opportunity. The experience reminded me of my dedication to advancing cybersecurity excellence”. 

UCL Computer Science Professor, Lorenzo Cavallaro, said: "Hands-on hacking-oriented security challenges are our tether to reality, complementing and bridging the gap between theoretical teaching of broad cyber security subjects and the expertise so much sought after in academic, industry, and government contexts.

I can only praise with excitement the results that Akshita and her team achieved at INCS CoE C2C CTF, and I am looking forward to seeing UCL alumni and our upcoming intake to feel the level of fulfifulfilmentexcitement CTF players experience.”