Combating hacker attacks

Liberty Cyber Defense Club will compete in 10th annual regional finals

Liberty University’s Cyber Defense Club will be competing in this year’s 10th annual Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition’s (MACCDC) regional finals at John Hopkins University in Laurel, Maryland, March 25-28.

After placing in the top 10 in the virtual qualifier round of the competition, the Cyber Defense Club will be making its second appearance in the MACCDC regional finals.

The team claimed second place to Maryland’s Townson University in the same competition last March and are hoping to move on to nationals this year.

The Cyber Defense Club equips students with computer safety techniques to combat existing threats and bolster systems to withstand future attacks from destructive hackers, according to club president Dustin Bowe. It teaches students to implement their skills in computer safety to prevent hackers from gaining personal information and executing malicious plans toward security databases.

“As more of our personal information is being digitalized, having even a basic knowledge of securing that information greatly reduces the risk of exploitation,” Bowe said.

According to the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), the theme for this year’s regional finals is “Operation Transit Storm.” Teams from 10 regional schools will be charged with the task of defending a virtual, mass transportation computer system against a full-scale cyberattack.

JHUAPL will provide a scenario by which the teams “will attempt to operate a simulated version of a commuter rail system’s (Information Technology) infrastructure and be responsible for defending and maintaining the system for the duration of the competition.”

Bowe expects that this year’s tournament will be extremely competitive.

“Naturally, our goal is to take first place this year and move on to nationals,” Bowe said. “I think we can make it happen. Our team looks a lot different than last year and many of the skillsets have been shuffled around, which I think is something we can use to our advantage.”

Dr. Mark Shaneck, associate professor of computer science and director of Liberty’s Center for Cyber Security, will lead the Cyber Defense Club in the tournament again this year and expects the trials to be exceptionally difficult, yet rewarding.

“The upcoming competition is a grueling experience for the students that (will) give them invaluable experience,” Shaneck said. “It (will) stress them above and beyond what they have experienced in the past and push them toward greatness.”

Shaneck believes the team is more prepared than it was last year, especially because the members know more of what is coming with this year’s competition. He is looking forward to seeing the team compete and hopes it will be met with success and move on to nationals.

“I am optimistic about our chances,” Shaneck said. “… However, the competition is tough and anything can happen. I am positive that they will do well, and I believe that there is a good possibility that we will win and move on. We have a great group of students this year who have worked very hard to prepare and have shown great dedication.”

The opposing teams in this year’s competition include Anne Arundel Community College, Capitol Technology University, County College of Morris, East Carolina University, James Madison University, Townson University, University of Maryland (Baltimore County), University of Maryland (College Park) and Wilmington University.

The winning team will compete in the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition April 24-26 in San Antonio, Texas.

For more information regarding the competition, visit maccdc.org and jhuapl.edu.

The Cyber Defense Club is an on-campus club and open to all students. Any students that are interested should contact Shaneck at mshaneck@liberty.edu or visit the club’s Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/libertycyberdefense.

ELLIOTT is a feature reporter.