- “Hack-A-Sat” is holding its fourth annual competitors on the DEF CON convention in Las Vegas.
- The competition is sponsored by the US authorities and has a prize of $50,000.
- The competitors is supposed to assist the federal government construct up its assets towards overseas hackers.
It appears counterintuitive for the US authorities to cheer on hackers concentrating on its satellites, however that is simply what’s taking place this weekend at Hack-A-Sat 4.
The “Hack-A-Sat,” based by the US House Drive and Air Drive, is a capture-the-flag-like contest normally consisting of qualification and ultimate occasions, in line with its particulars, throughout which hackers use {hardware} that simulates breaking right into a real-life satellite tv for pc and having access to its knowledge.
The competition was initially dreamed up within the hopes of bettering defenses towards threats to cybersecurity more and more confronted by the US authorities — particularly from probably hostile overseas powers — by permitting the federal government to observe how hackers would assault and beef up its understanding of superior hacking.
For the primary time, this yr’s iteration of the competitors can have hackers working to interrupt into the House Drive satellite tv for pc Moonlighter, a check satellite tv for pc designed as a “hacking sandbox” that can enable superior evaluation of cybersecurity threats.
Through the competitors, hackers work frantically to interrupt into the Moonlighter satellite tv for pc to achieve entry to its knowledge whereas combating off the opposite groups from attacking their very own programs, in line with the competition particulars.
The primary-place workforce will win $50,000, the second-place workforce will win $30,000, and the third-place workforce will take residence $20,000.
In keeping with an interview with House Drive Capt. Kevin Bernert given to Politico, the federal government hopes the competitors will creatively contain all kinds of individuals expert in cyber networks.
“We do not need to simply be a giant, monolithic group,” mentioned Bernert to Politico. “We need to get as many individuals well concerned. And so the long-term influence in that’s to grasp that it’s important to bake in cybersecurity — you do not simply bolt it on afterwards.”
5 groups have made it to the ultimate spherical, together with Poland Can Into House, final yr’s successful workforce. Winners of this yr’s competitors will probably be introduced on Sunday.
The Air Drive, House Drive, and Bernert didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark despatched outdoors common enterprise hours.
