SEMO cybersecurity team ranks in top 10 of global competition

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Southeast Missouri State University’s capstone cybersecurity class is making a strong showing in a global embedded Capture the Flag (eCTF) competition, ranking in the top 10 out of 116 teams from 51 institutions.

In their first-ever attempt, the SEMO team has surpassed competitors from institutions like MIT and Purdue, demonstrating the strength of the university’s cybersecurity program.

The competition, organized by MITRE, challenges teams to complete hidden security tasks and protect their solutions while attacking those of their competitors. This year’s challenge focuses on Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as smart home technology and industrial automation.

Led by Dr. George Li, associate professor of computer science, the SEMO team’s success stems from its strong cybersecurity curriculum and hands-on experience with IoT devices.

“Students approached me about competing, and I believed they could win,” Li said. “Their preparation and experience with IoT devices has been instrumental in their success.”

Team captains Sartaj Chowdhury and Uzair Hussain, both cybersecurity master’s degree students, emphasized the competition’s comprehensive nature.

“We’re learning teamwork, team management, hardware, software, attack, defense, and solving real-world problems,” Chowdhury said.

The team’s success has confirmed the strength of SEMO’s cybersecurity program, which provides students with practical experience and industry knowledge. Competitions like eCTF help students build technical skills and secure jobs at top cybersecurity firms.

Although winning the competition would be a historic achievement, Hussain said the team is already celebrating its success.

“This is great for students,” Hussain said. “We’re aiming to win, but even if we don’t, we’ll all have a large-scale industry project to add to our resumes.”