A cyber school is Bristol has just played host to a mock cybercrime investigation as government and industry seek to plug the UK’s talent shortage in technology.
Staged as part of the Cyber Security Challenge, teams of coders were tasked with finding the location of a person supposedly kidnapped by the fictitious gang Flag Day Associates, through the analysis of computer systems.
Stefan Miles, a software developer on the winning side, said: "This is my first year playing the challenge and it’s been a great way to develop my skills. Security isn’t the primary focus of my day job, so I have been reliant on virtualised systems I can create or find myself online to practise.
"However the challenge really is a step up. The sophistication of the environments we can play around with far exceed anything you can create at home and they really test you."
The coders were tested on a range of cybersecurity techniques including steganography (the art of hiding messages within other media), and reverse-engineering.
13 participants will also move onto a masterclass where their abilities will be further tested, with the later event supported by GCHQ, the National Crime Agency, Lockheed Martin, BT, Jupiter and Airbus.
"Our supporting and hosting the competition not only demonstrates our diligence in filling the UK’s cyber skills gap, but also our pledge to offering these gifted individuals access to the latest technology and most sophisticated environment of fighting cybercrime," said Brian Lord, MD of PGI Cyber, which backed the contest in Bristol.
"The talent we have seen at this face-to-face round has been impressive to say the least and I would like to congratulate the winners, as well as all the other participants."
