February 2012 Cyber Quests
USCC is pleased to announce its partnership with EnergySec in this next Quest in the Cyber Quests series. This Quest introduces students to the world of Industrial Control Systems. This exciting Quest challenges students to identify technologies, examine communication protocols, and analyze embedded software routines used in industrial control applications. This is an opportunity to reach beyond traditional information systems and explore cyber security issues relevant to our most critical infrastructures. Registration opened February 1, 2012 and closes February 28th. The competition will be open from February 15 to the 29th. Read more about it here.
Cyber Quests Competition
Cyber Quests are a series of fun and challenging on-line competitions allowing participants to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of information security disciplines. Each quest features an artifact for analysis, along with a series of quiz questions. Some quests focus on a potentially vulnerable sample web server as the artifact, challenging participants to identify its flaws using vulnerability analysis skills. Other quests are focused around forensic analysis, packet capture analysis, and more. The quests have varying levels of difficulty and complexity, with some quests geared toward beginners, while others include more intermediate and ultimately advanced material.
The Cyber Quests online contests provide crucial skills development and enable us to tap into the tremendous talent across our nation to identify those with a passion for security and a desire to put their skills to good use in addressing our cyber security workforce challenges.
Who is Eligible to Particpate in Cyber Quests?
Any U.S. citizen may particpate.
2011 Cyber Quests
March 2011 Cyber Quest
The first Cyber Quest took place in March 2011 and featured a target website with numerous common vulnerabilities. Its associated quiz was designed for an intermediate skill level, and focused on website and application configuration and implementation flaws, along with TCP/IP networking fundamentals.The players had to race against the clock and each other, and the winners were determined based on who achieved the highest score in the shortest amount of time. The top three winners recieved an award of $300, $200 and $100 respectively.
- Ryan Sears, a junior at Michigan Technological University
- Alexander R Shagla-McKotch, a senior at Rochester Institute of Technology
- Stephen Sigwart, a graduate student at the University of Delaware
April 2011 Cyber Quest
The second Cyber Quest took place in April and featured a challenging online competition that tested students' abilities to identify vulnerabilities in a virtual network and answer questions related to their findings. More than 800 students, across 49 states and more than 400 schools participated!! The April Cyber Quest competition served as the qualifier for students to be invited to attend one of several Cyber Camps offered across the country this summer, as well as receive other prizes and awards, including a trip to NetWars in DC in July!
Congratulations to the two winners to attend the NetWars competition:
- Alexander Shagla-McKotch, a senior at Rochester Institute of Technology, NY
- Cody Shoffit, a freshman at Whatcom Community College, Bellingham, WA
Cody Shoffit
Alexander Shagla-McKotch
August/September 2011 Cyber Quest
The third Cyber Quest took place in August and September and featured a challenging online competition that tested students' abilities to identify and interpret various types of web application attacks and answer questions related to their findings. More than 480 individuals registered across 43 states, from more than 160 schools (including high schools!). Some professionals participated as well! The Cyber Quests III competition served as the qualifier for students to be invited to attend the Fall Cyber Camp in North Carolina, as well as receive other prizes and awards, including a trip to NetWars for the top winner!
Congratulations to our top three U.S. winners!
First Place:
Chad Weber, a sophomore at
Vermont Technical College,
Vermont
Second Place:
Ben Toews, graduate,
DePaul University,
Illinois
Third Place:
Dan Borges, a senior at
East Stroudsburg University,
Pennsylvania
Congratulations to each of our Cyber Quests participants!