Cybersecurity enthusiasts converged at the annual Jolt Cyber Challenge recently for an open competition. The participants' experience levels ranged from high school students to seasoned professionals. The competition spanned the weekend of Oct. 6-8, commencing at 8 a.m. on a Saturday and concluding at midnight the following day.

Jolt is a unique competition with a format similar to "Jeopardy." It presents participants with a wide array of challenges to solve, predominantly centered on cybersecurity. These challenges include cryptography, network hacking, web exploitation, and much more.

Kate Kettler, an electrical engineering and computer science student and part of the Cyber Hogs, placed first last year. She said, "It was really fun and exciting to see so many different people participating in the event." Kettler noted that the competition took place in a massive room filled with tables. Some participants had laptops, while other competitors brought elaborate setups. She mentioned that Jolt is open to anyone with a passion for cybersecurity.

Two EECS student groups placed 5th and 6th this year:

• Team Flip the Switch finished in 5th place: Zachary Harris, Luke Simmons, Thomas Winkle and Pranav Mahesh

• CyberHogs finished in 6th place: Grant Wilkins, Kate Kettler, Mitchell Bylak and Gideon Sutterfield

Kettler said, "Jolt isn't merely about winning. It's also about networking and skill-building. The competition provides opportunities to learn aspects of cybersecurity not typically covered in formal education." She mentioned there was a cryptography challenge involving an encryption method called a book cipher, which they had to decrypt. This experience expanded her knowledge base, and she enjoyed the unique challenges presented at Jolt.

Kettler said, "I get a lot of joy from helping others during the competition. While I didn't want to give away answers, offering hints and guidance to some of the high schoolers was fun." She noted that teaching others is a powerful way to reinforce one's understanding of a subject.

Jolt will continue to be a hub for those passionate about cybersecurity, offering a unique blend of challenges, learning opportunities, and valuable networking connections. Kettler's experience exemplifies the dynamic and educational nature of this annual competition.

You can learn more about Jolt by visiting their website.