The final stage for the HackforGov has began
At A Glance
- The HackforGov finals kicked off at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel, where twenty student teams competed for the prestigious National Champion title. This event showcased the top talent in the field of cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of nurturing local cybersecurity expertise.
- The winning team at HackforGov would not only secure national recognition but also represent the Philippines on the international stage. They would compete in the Asean – Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Center (AJCCBC) Cyber Sea Games 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as the inaugural ASEAN Cyber Shield, the 1st ACS Hacking Contest in Jakarta, Indonesia. This international exposure highlights the growing significance of cybersecurity in the ASEAN region.
- HackforGov had a broader mission beyond just competition. It aimed to raise awareness about cybersecurity issues and inspire young individuals to consider careers in this field. By organizing such an event, the organizers sought to empower students with the skills and knowledge required to tackle cybersecurity challenges and contribute to the nation's security.
- The competition added a realistic dimension by introducing wildcard teams comprised of high-performing individuals who tested the participants' ability to handle surprise attacks, mirroring real-world cybersecurity incidents.
HackforGov's finals began at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel with twenty student teams competing for the National Champion title.
The winning team shall represent the country in the Asean – Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Center (AJCCBC) Cyber Sea Games 2023 on November 9-10 this year, in Bangkok, Thailand. Additionally, they will be raising the country’s flag in the ASEAN Cyber Shield, the 1st ACS Hacking Contest, taking place from November 21-23 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The aim of the competition is to raise cybersecurity awareness and inspire young individuals to pursue careers in cybersecurity.
This culminating event follows the successful launch of the 2023 HackforGov Competition in April 2023, orchestrated by the Philippine National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-PH) under the Cybersecurity Bureau (CSB) of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Under the theme “Building Cyber Champions: Strengthening our Nation Through Cyber Awareness and Action,” the competition aims to empower students with the skills and knowledge required to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
To add a twist in the competition, just in real life when threats emerge, CERT-PH has tossed in wildcard teams. They are made up of high-performing individuals who are set to test how well the teams are able to handle surprise attacks.
During the HackforGov Finals, participants will engage in in-person interactive challenges, spanning various categories such as forensics, cryptography, steganography, web, and other forms of cybersecurity threats.