What is CyberFusion?
CyberFusion is an invitation-only event for 27 Virginia colleges, hosted by Virginia Military Institute, featuring a job fair, TechDuel debates, networking opportunities, and capture-the-flag competitions. This year, it was hosted from February 20th to 21st.
Before the competition
I will be honest, I was very nervous, I never been to such a large CyberSecurity event, let alone a competition. In the days leading up to the competition, I would do challenges on PicoCTF, but I would admit I was struggling to get the hang of things. It did not help that my laptop refused to cooperate on many of the challenges and with the devices we would be using for the competition.
After arriving
I was ecstatic to be there. To be surrounded by peers passionate about cybersecurity and learning what technology and techniques are taught in other schools. It was overwhelming at first, being surrounded by so many new faces, but I gave myself a task: to go around to every side table and talk. Talking doesn’t hurt, and I get to learn what companies associate themselves with cyber students.
The job fair portion of the event was informative. I got to learn what companies were looking for and practice my networking skills. One company that caught my attention was Triple Point Security. Speaking with Tyson was a lovely experience; I couldn’t stop asking questions.
Speaking of questions, I had several questions during the TechDuel debates. I do have strong opinions on the matter, but I did have questions that challenged both sides in both debates. I might consider joining the debate team next year. Proud of my teammate Will for winning his debate!
Bottom: Dr.Quinn, Me, Kyle
I learned a lot of CTF techniques that I will carry with me for future adventures. Specifically examining HTTP headers and directory enumeration. While I did reach multiple dead ends with my teammate Obadele, we still managed to figure out the couple we were given. One of the funniest challenges I encountered was a multistep heximal cipher; the key was the bolded word in the original question. I will admit I had a laugh; it taught me to really pay attention to the small details, which make or break the experience. Overall, it was an amazing bonding experience with my fellow students and professor. I learned what it took to be someone in cybersecurity, and for that, I am forever grateful for this opportunity. Can’t wait for more to come!