In recent years, cybersecurity has become one of the most prominent and talent-scarce fields in the information technology sector. Offensive and defensive cybersecurity, in particular, will be a key future demand for industry professionals. This has led to the rise of positions such as “Penetration Tester,” “Ethical Hacker,” and “Red Team Operator.” These roles require a deep understanding of programming, cryptography, application systems and etc. The mindset and techniques akin to those of hackers will also be the elements in order to quickly identify and patch security vulnerabilities.

Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions are designed to train these specific skills and mindsets. Participants must find hidden vulnerabilities in a simulated environment based on real systems to break through security defenses. Upon success, they capture “flags” and earn points. Such competitions are held worldwide to enhance security techniques, with some even featuring global rankings to compete for the title of the best in the world.

“HKCERT Capture The Flag 2024,” organised by the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), is now in its fifth edition. It is one of the largest cybersecurity competitions in Hong Kong, featuring four categories: Secondary School, Tertiary, Open, and International.

In addition to the competition, the event includes various workshops and sharing sessions. Through these TechEd (technology education) activities, students can learn skills such as programming, cryptography, and digital forensics, fostering creative thinking and preparing them for the future. Industry professionals can also use this opportunity to test their skills, train their cybersecurity teams and connect with ethical hacker communities worldwide, delving deeper into cybersecurity to become experts in the field.

Last year, the competition attracted over a thousand participants and received widespread acclaim. This year, new challenge categories and formats have been introduced, promising an even more exciting and intense experience