Cádiz students win Talent4Cyber_24 hackathon

Universidad de Cádiz students win the Talent4Cyber_24 hackathon

A talented team of four students from the Escuela Superior de Ingeniería (ESI) at the Universidad de Cádiz has won first place in Talent4Cyber_24, the prestigious hackathon organised by the Mando Conjunto del Ciberespacio. This event was organised in collaboration with the Universidad de Granada and the TRUST Lab at the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena.

The winners, Pedro José Navas Pérez, Carlos Flethes Montesinos, Álvaro Orellana Serrano, and Alejandro Arias Casquero, were awarded by Capitán de Fragata Enrique Pérez de Tena from the CCE during the CCN-CERT and Ciberdefensa conference, which took place recently in Madrid. This recognition not only highlights their skill, but also gives them the opportunity to participate in NATO's international Locked Shields 2025 maneuvers, an event where they will compete against some of the best hackers in the world.

During intense days of competition, these students demonstrated their expertise in cybersecurity, outperforming teams from universities such as Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Zaragoza, Granada, Cartagena, and the Mando Conjunto del Ciberespacio itself. The event began with an exciting Capture The Flag, where participants faced various cybersecurity challenges, with only the top six qualifiers advancing to the next phase.

The second day brought an increase in difficulty, featuring cybersecurity incident simulations reflecting real-life situations focused on the protection of critical systems. In this way, participants' ability to react under pressure and face adverse situations was evaluated.

Recognition for cybersecurity in Spain

This victory not only highlights the educational quality of the Universidad de Cádiz, but also emphasizes the growing importance of cybersecurity in today's world. Events like Talent4Cyber_24 foster young talent and prepare new generations to face future challenges in the digital realm.