Cardiff hosts cyber competition final for 14-18 year olds
18 March 2025
The competition and final was held in collaboration with industry and the University of South Wales and the University of the West of England
The final was held on 14 March, with participants coming from as far as Pembrokeshire and Ruthin.
Teams competed in two Capture the Flag competitions organised by Women in Cyber and the School of Computer Science and Informatics. The competition focused on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and online investigative skills, challenging participants to uncover clues and solve cybersecurity puzzles using publicly available data and tools.
Prizes for the competition winners were donated by the Data Transformation Innovation Institute, Deadstar Publishing, Thales and Empirisys. The National Cyber Secutity Centre was also in attendance.
“The team we have taking part have shown an interest in cyber throughout their school life, so this is an opportunity for them to see students, teachers and lecturers and get an idea of what they might want to do in the future.”
Dr Lowri Williams and Dr Eirini Anthi, who were responsible for one of the Capture the Flag competitions, said: “Unlike traditional cyber security challenges that rely heavily on programming or technical exploits, this Capture the Flag highlights the power of open-source tools and creative investigation, making it a great way for beginners to get involved and for experienced players to refine their techniques.
“Participants take part for various reasons. Beginners see it as a fun and engaging way to explore cyber security without needing deep technical knowledge, while aspiring professionals use it as a stepping stone to develop and showcase their investigative and analytical skills. Experienced players enjoy the challenge and the competitive environment, honing their OSINT abilities in a structured, gamified format. Regardless of experience level, the competition provides valuable insights into real-world cyber security applications, making it both educational and rewarding.
“The students taking part are studying computer science but it’s not just completely cyber related, so they were keen to look into other areas of the subject they weren’t directly studying. They all work together really well and really enjoy the tasks.”
“Encouraging more girls to participate is particularly important as women remain underrepresented in cyber security. This CTF provides a welcoming and engaging entry point, helping to build confidence and demonstrating that cyber skills are not just about coding or hacking—they involve research, logic, and creativity, which appeal to a broad range of abilities. Increasing female participation in cyber security is crucial for diversity, leading to more innovative and inclusive security solutions.
”Beyond competition, OSINT-based CTFs highlight that cyber security is not limited to technical hacking; it’s about thinking like an investigator. Many of the tools used in this CTF, such as social media analysis, metadata extraction, and geolocation techniques, are not traditionally associated with cyber security, yet they play a vital role in real-world applications. Whether in ethical hacking, threat intelligence, law enforcement, or fraud detection, OSINT skills are highly valuable. Ultimately, this CTF is more than just a game—it’s an opportunity to develop practical skills, explore a future in cyber security, and break down barriers to entry in the field.”