Taiwan wins 2nd place at Japan hackathon

2015-02-10

A team of hackers from Taiwan claimed second at Japan’s biggest hacking contest Feb. 8 in Tokyo, underscoring the strength of the country’s cybersecurity environment.

Beating 4,186 contenders from 58 countries and territories, Hitcon trailed South Korea’s Toefl Beginner and finished ahead of Plaid Parliament of Pwning from the U.S. at the two-day SECCON Capture the Flag Finals. It was the team’s debut in the event organized by nonprofit Japan Network Security Association to cultivate talent and promote international exchanges on IT security.

“We are extremely pleased with the result,” team leader Lee Luan-chuan said. “This achievement bears testament to the enormous potential of local computer science specialists on the global stage.”

Comprising emerging and experienced hackers, the eight-member outfit demonstrated outstanding teamwork at the annual competition. “Our members supported one another throughout the event’s defense and attack stages,” Lee said.

Although the group required several hours to get up to speed on the contest rules, Lee said it soon trumped the competition. “We responded quickly to the moves of our opponents and successfully thwarted their attempts to compromise our system.”

First held in 2012, the Tokyo Denki University-staged competition is one of seven qualifying contests for the high-profile DEFCON Capture the Flag 2015 finals held Aug. 6-9 in Las Vegas.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=227284&CtNode=413)