Student Decodes Cyber Security Puzzle

Congratulations to Year 12 computer whiz, Ture Hansson, whose team placed second in the high school category of the NZ Cyber Security Challenge (NZCSC).

Run by the University of Waikato, the annual contest is open to college, tertiary and industry entrants. Ture was one of 18 college students out of 150 finalists to make it through to the final round which saw entrants compete in teams. 

Ture’s high school category team included a student from Queenstown and Auckland. It finished first in one round of the final and second in another – boosting it to second college team overall. 

Finalists had to use cyber security techniques to analyse a problem and ‘capture the flag’ hidden somewhere online.

To make it to the final, Ture competed individually against college, tertiary and industry entrants in cyber security exercisesincluding steganography, cryptography and forensics. 

It is the second time he has entered, having also made it to the round of 150 finalists last year. Impressive skills Ture!