A group of Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) students secured fourth place at the Siber Siaga 2024 X iHack 2024 hackathon.

The award-winning team GPT-1010 consisted of Tan Sin Chee, Ang Boon Keat, Lee Wei Song, and Kum Wing Kit. They walked away with a cash prize of RM2,000. They were guided by FICT Head of Programme for Master in Data Management and Analytics and Postgraduate Diploma in Data Management and Analytics Dr Aun Yichiet, and FICT academics Ts Dr Gan Ming Lee and Puan Nor ‘Afifah binti Sabri.

Titled “Code Combat X iHack Capture the Flag (CTF) 2024”, the hackathon was organised from 27 to 28 July 2024 (qualifying round) via an online platform, and from 6 to 8 August 2024 (semi-finals & grand finale) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). It was jointly organised by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Malaysian Armed Forces’ Defense Cyber and Electromagnetic Division (BSEP), in conjunction with the Siber Siaga 2024 and Cyber DSA 2024 programme. It garnered a total participation of 103 teams from local universities.

While cybersecurity may not be the main driving force in the development of a nation, it serves as a key defence against malicious cyberattacks that can jeopardise that progress. As cyber threats are becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s technology-driven world, promoting cybersecurity education is now more essential than ever. Aligned with the objective of nurturing the next generation of cyber security experts, “Code Combat X iHack CTF 2024” provided a platform for university students in Malaysia to showcase their cyber skills, as well as, discover and cultivate new talents in the field of cybersecurity.

Sharing their joy, Team GPT-1010 enthused about their excitement in overcoming challenges and improving themselves. The team leader, Tan Sin Chee, representing the team, said, “We will participate in more competitions in the future because we are always excited to seek new challenges. This competition not only allowed us to realise our shortcomings, sharpen our skills, and explore new frontiers, but also offered us fun moments with our busy study routines temporarily out of the way. Each of us contributed our unique strengths and skills, which greatly helped us win the fourth spot.”

He added, “We are also thankful for the support from our faculty, as they made it possible for us to physically be there to compete without affecting our studies.”

The hackathon consisted of three rounds, namely the qualifying round, semi-finals, and grand finale. The qualifying round featured an online Jeopardy-style CTF (with 103 teams). Meanwhile, the semi-finals entailed an Attack and Defense style CTF (with 30 teams), culminating in a Time Attack style CTF among the top five teams.