As Sol Plaatje University (SPU) continues to pioneer digital advancements, we are immensely proud of the strides made by our Geekulcha Student Society (GKSS) members who rocked the stage for the second consecutive year at the ITWeb Security Summit 2024 Hackathon, hosted by Geekulcha and ITWeb under the theme ‘GenAI vs GenZ’. The aim was to help young South Africans sharpen their cyber security skills and provide participants with opportunities to enter the field, amid the shortage of security skills globally. Over 500 participants registered nationally and went through development sessions before submitting proposals. A total of 57 participants (14 teams) were selected to take part in this year’s hackathon.
The hackathon was structured as three streams: Secure Innovation, Capture The Flag (CTF) Red Teaming and CTF Blue Teaming, targeting the Crush FTP CVE-2024-4040 vulnerability (unauthenticated remote attacks).
The summit was the ultimate battleground for cybersecurity skills and knowledge, creativity and teamwork. SPU fielded three SPU tech-elite squads: Sudo SPU for blue teaming, SPU Red 2 for red teaming, and Art-VerifAI for the innovation challenge. Proving tech domination, Sudo SPU snagged the titles for Best Blue Team, Best CTF Team, and nailed 2nd place overall, scoring an internship with Snode plus a cool R10,000. Art-VerifAI triumphed in1st place in the innovation challenge and bagged a sweet R20,000! These wins are a testament to the skill, will-power, and unity of the SPU GKSS teams, expertly guided by SPU lecturers from the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Dr Silas Verkijika and Mrs Eva Mamabolo, who is affectionately known as ‘Choza’ meaning friend.
Sudo SPU demonstrated exceptional skills in defending systems against simulated attacks. Their proficiency in intrusion detection, incident response, and overall defensive strategies earned them the title of Best Blue Team. Additionally, their outstanding performance in the CTF competition secured them the Best CTF Team award.
SPU Red 2’s participation in the red teaming competition provided valuable experience and exposure to offensive security techniques. Their involvement in the hackathon contributed to the overall success and learning experience of SPU GKSS.
Art-VerifAI managed to create an API that detects deepfakes and secures biometric authentication systems. They prioritized security by mitigating common API vulnerabilities such as XSS, brute force attacks, CORS exploits, and URL manipulation. The API ensures encrypted communication, sanitized inputs, rate limiting, and operates as a standalone application.
SPU wholeheartedly congratulates the SPU Geekulcha Student Society (GKSS) team for their outstanding performance at the ITWeb Security Summit 2024 Hackathon! Their remarkable achievements not only showcase their exceptional cybersecurity skills but also highlight their dedication, teamwork, and innovation.
Keep sparkling and inspiring others with your passion for excellence in the digital space!
Check out the GKSS ITWeb Security Summit 2024 Hackathon line-up below:
- Sudo SPU
Commander: Freddie Manyate
Squad: Ikho Nogemane, Kgalaletso Makhoana, Hope Mnguni, Keotshepile Modise
- SPU Red 2
Commander: Liyema Swaartbooi
Squad: Gift Nemakonde, Christephor Kruger, Gomolemo Walaza
- Art-VerifAI
Commander: Ngonidzashe Tinago
Squad: Katlego Mmatladi (GKSS Secretary), Luthando Mletshe (former GKSS Deputy Chairperson), Rejoice Chitengu.
