Cyber Skills at SciFest: A Day of Innovation and Cybersecurity Awareness.

Cyber Skills had the pleasure of attending SciFest at Munster Technological University (MTU), an all-island STEM initiative that fosters active, collaborative, and inquiry-based learning among second-level students. The event provided a vibrant platform for students to showcase their innovative projects and present to judges from MTU and Cyber Skills. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and creativity as students presented their creative ideas.

The highlight of SciFest was the opportunity to interact with these bright young minds. We were thrilled to engage with students, discussing their projects and explaining what Cyber Skills is all about. We had the opportunity to offer them direct insights into what the Cyber Futures Cyber Security Academy provides, as well as to address any questions they had. It was encouraging to hear their enthusiasm for cybersecurity and their eagerness to learn more about protecting themselves online. As we introduced our upcoming Cyber Security Academy, which will be running in June, we received valuable feedback from students keen on enhancing their cybersecurity skills.

Our own Dean Brennan, Cybersecurity Researcher from Cyber Skills delivered a talk to the students. Dean shared his career journey, shedding light on the roles of red team and blue team in cybersecurity. His engaging presentation also focused on the risks associated with phishing emails and the more sophisticated threat of spear phishing.

He shared insights from his PhD research at the University of Limerick. He discussed his work on testing cyber risk assessment frameworks and modelling the cyber range for advanced threats. Through a video demonstration, he showed just how easily someone could fall victim to a phishing attack, emphasizing the importance of staying vigilant.

To wrap up his presentation, Dean introduced the students to the Cyber Security Academy, an initiative under Cyber Futures. These programs offer valuable opportunities for students to deepen their cybersecurity knowledge and skills. It was a fitting conclusion to an inspiring day filled with learning and innovation. Dean provided a practical demonstration of a Capture-the-Flag challenge, an engaging and rewarding gamified approach to learning cybersecurity. During his presentation, he shared useful tips on how to jump-start a career in cybersecurity and recommended that students join the Cyber Security Academy.

For those unable to attend the academy from June 10th to 13th, Dean suggested alternative ways to explore the world of cybersecurity. He mentioned free gamified cybersecurity platforms like HackTheBox, TryHackMe, and PicoCTF, which offer hands-on experiences and challenges to develop cybersecurity skills.

As the event drew to a close, the excitement continued with a raffle, where students had the chance to win a range of fantastic prizes. It was a wonderful way to end the day, celebrating the hard work and creativity of these young innovators.