Students combat online threats at ASEAN Battle of Hackers

The ASEAN Battle of Hackers (ABOH) 2023, a flagship cybersecurity competition, unfolded on December 2, 2023, showcasing resilience, innovation, and collaboration within the regional cybersecurity community.

University students from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, and Singapore participated, both physically and online, highlighting the event’s adaptability and inclusivity.

ASEAN collaboration and innovation

ABOH 2023 marked a departure from the previous year’s format by expanding to an ASEAN-wide competition.

Spearheaded by Nor Azlina Abd Rahman and Noris Ismail, advisors of Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation Forensics and Cyber Security Research Center, the event drew 409 participants from 141 teams, including 29 universities.

Notably, APU contributed 50 teams, showcasing the university’s commitment to cybersecurity education.

In the ASEAN category, Team Oubaitori from the National Institute of Technology Malang, Indonesia, secured the Champion position.

Team Kasturi from APU emerged as the Champion in the Local category. The Jeopardy-style Capture the Flag (CTF) event featured challenges spanning cryptography, forensics, web vulnerabilities, and reverse engineering.

Triumphs and challenges in cybersecurity

ABOH 2023 introduced transformative elements, including internationalisation, a workshop format, and the release of a comprehensive guide titled “A Beginner’s Guide to CTF” on Amazon.

The heart of ABOH 2023 lies in its diverse Jeopardy-style CTF challenges, developed by the APU FSEC-SS.

Challenges spanned domains such as Cryptography, Forensics, Web Vulnerabilities, Reverse Engineering, and more, providing a comprehensive test of participants’ knowledge and skills.

Judging criteria focused on cybersecurity skills and ethical conduct. Teams earned points for solving challenges, with individual contributions tracked.

Adherence to competition rules was crucial, with violations leading to disqualification, emphasising fair play and responsible cybersecurity practices.

The event also featured a dynamic Threat Hunting Workshop led by Dr. Meisam from the EC-Council, attracting 176 participants.

ABOH 2023 received significant sponsorships from companies such as EC Council, Wissen, AirAsia, MDEC, NOH4TS, PWC, and AWS.

VIPs from these sponsors shared insights and expertise during the opening and closing ceremonies, enriching the overall experience.

The resounding success of ABOH 2023 underscores the dedication of its organisers, the outstanding skills exhibited by participants, and the evolution of ABOH into a premier Capture the Flag (CTF) competition in the ASEAN region.

APU’s commitment to cybersecurity excellence is further exemplified by its Cyber Security Talent Zone (CSTZ) and comprehensive curriculum, producing high-quality graduates ready for the dynamic challenges of the cybersecurity landscape.