Baker College students demonstrate hacking know-how in national cyber contest organized by military association

    To advance and gain points in this extreme learning exercise, Hack the Arch competitors have to solve a series of realistic web and network-based security challenges. Challenge categories include cryptography, SQL databases, programming, exploitation, packet analysis, steganography (messages hidden within messages), forensics and trivia. The challenges increase in difficulty as competitors get closer to hacking into the Arch. Stymied teams can purchase hints using a limited number of monetary credits.

    Three Baker College of Jackson teams were in the top 13 out of 40 — placing 5th, 10th and 13th — in the all-day national Hack the Arch, an atypical capture-the-flag cybersecurity competition, June 24. It was organized by the St. Louis Chapter of the Military Cyber Professionals Association.

    To advance and gain points in this extreme learning exercise, Hack the Arch competitors have to solve a series of realistic web and network-based security challenges. Challenge categories include cryptography, SQL databases, programming, exploitation, packet analysis, steganography (messages hidden within messages), forensics and trivia. The challenges increase in difficulty as competitors get closer to hacking into the Arch. Stymied teams can purchase hints using a limited number of monetary credits.

     

    The participating students were Zane Babcock, Zachary Backes, Stephen DePew, Lucas Gorcyzca, Martin Johnston, Michael Morgese, C.J. Saathoff, Polina Shebolaeva and Liam Quick. They were assisted by alumni Keenan France, employed by ASK, and Lucas Gorczyca, with Consumers Energy.

     

    To turn up the competitive heat, the Jackson chapter of MiSec, an open collective of Michigan IT security professionals, formed a team and competed onsite at the Baker College cyber defense lab. The MiSec team tied with the highest scoring student team for fifth place. Logging in for MiSec were IT professionals from Consumers Energy, Offensive Security and Secure Ideas.