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MWR launches annual HackFu challenge

Cyber security consultancy, MWR InfoSecurity, has announced the fourth annual HackFu challenge. The challenge is an online hacking competition which aims to generate interest in the information security field, as well as recruit students to address the cyber security skills gap in South Africa in the run up to the main HackFu event in June.

For those new to HackFu, it’s an event hosted by MWR that brings the world’s best security pros and enthusiasts together to take part in challenges designed around hacking, scripting, tinkering, lock-picking, crypto, and generally thinking outside the box.

The South African HackFu challenge will give participants a chance to win places at the main event, as well as a host of other tech goodies, including a DIY 3D printer kit, Quadcopters, a smartphone-controlled paper airplane kit, Chromecast, as well as plenty of MWR swag, such as T-shirts and USB drives.

Competitors will download a set of challenges based on a custom-created storyline set in a post-apocalyptic world of the future. Applying problem solving skills and a healthy amount of technical prowess will lead the applicants to the answers. Those who show enough promise will be invited to participate in this year’s HackFu, either on-site at the venue or remotely in a new feature being introduced for this year’s event.

Although the challenge targets South African students in particular, anyone and everyone who is interested in the information security field is invited to enter. “There is a grave shortage of skills in the country and we hope to get more bright South Africans involved in the security industry,” says Riaan Vanboom, director at MWR South Africa.

He says there are ten challenges in total, ranging from simple logic puzzles to complex, multi-part challenges. “Each solution will give participants a password which they can use to decrypt another part of the story.”

To find out more about HackFu 2016, see footage of last year’s event and download the challenges at hackfu.mwrinfosecurity.com

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