{"id":143556,"date":"2024-10-22T14:07:31","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T18:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=143556"},"modified":"2024-10-23T08:57:29","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T12:57:29","slug":"ucf-students-host-live-cyberattack-simulation-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-students-host-live-cyberattack-simulation-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Students Host Live Cyberattack Simulation Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>UCF students have introduced a new way for future cyber professionals to develop the hands-on cyber skills they\u2019ll need in their careers. Horse Plinko, a live cyberattack-simulation contest named after a meme of a horse falling through a plinko board, has exploded in popularity since its introduction last year.<\/p>\n<p>Organizers hosted its second Horse Plinko Cyber Competition this month, attracting more than 160 competitors.<\/p>\n<p>The contest with the silly name offers serious experience for anyone interested in cyber defense. Participants role-play as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/cybersecurity-research-and-innovations\/\">cybersecurity<\/a> interns who defend a fictional company, the International Horse Plinko League, from various cyberattacks. During the six-hour competition, \u201cplinkterns\u201d are tasked with three priorities: identifying threats, bolstering defenses to keep the threats from returning, and keeping the company\u2019s critical services up and running in real time.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_143559\" style=\"max-width: 1200px;\" class=\"figure float-left\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img size-full wp-image-143559 img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors.jpg\" alt=\"Group photo of the 88 competitors who competed in Saturday\u2019s Horse Plinko\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img size-full wp-image-143559 img-fluid lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Group photo of the 88 competitors who competed in Saturday\u2019s Horse Plinko\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-Saturday-competitors.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Group photo of the 88 competitors who competed in Saturday\u2019s Horse Plinko.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe simulate a business network for teams to defend and pit them against live attackers attempting, and succeeding, to hack into their network,\u201d says competition director <strong>Harrison Keating \u201924<\/strong>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/degree\/cyber-security-and-privacy-ms\/\">cybersecurity and privacy master\u2019s degree<\/a> student and captain of UCF\u2019s Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition (C3) team. \u201cThat&#8217;s an experience many of them will not get again until they are working in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the big draws to Horse Plinko is the levity its organizers have weaved into the event. The contest underscores the valuable hands-on experience it offers with a healthy dose of fun.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a LinkedIn profile and website for the fictional company, there&#8217;s recurring characters that appear in-person during the competition, and there are a lot of running jokes,\u201d Keating says. \u201cKeeping it light-hearted helps make the competition more approachable to new students.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He adds that Horse Plinko is structured to mimic a real-world environment not just in terms of the technical skills required of future cyber professionals, but for the interpersonal skills needed as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCybersecurity is a highly collaborative field, and this is a good chance for them to develop their teamwork and communication skills in a high-pressure environment,\u201d Keating says. \u201cIt also helps <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/why-cyber-students-choose-ucf\">students network with their peers and learn from each other<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With several dozen competitions under their belts \u2014 including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/cyber-security-dynasty-ucf-wins-sixth-super-bowl-of-collegiate-cyber-defense-competitions\/\">a recent National College Cyber Defense Competition (NCCDC) championship<\/a> \u2014 organizers have a wealth of experience to draw upon to develop and run the event. They intend to bring cyber skills to the masses with a contest designed to be accessible to anyone with an interest in cyber, no matter the major or skill level.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_143560\" style=\"max-width: 1200px;\" class=\"figure float-left\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img size-full wp-image-143560 img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs.jpg\" alt=\"A group of students posing for a photo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img size-full wp-image-143560 img-fluid lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"A group of students posing for a photo\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/10\/Plinko-3rd-place-winners-and-Hack-execs.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">A team of competitors and Hack@UCF executive members who placed third Saturday: front row from left to right: Ayla Bratton, Kenny Nguyen, Jacob Salmon, Tabur Salmon. Back row from left to right: Adit Rajkumar, John Vezzola, Jonathan Styles and Kevin Kiderchah.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cOur club has over 350 members, and only eight of them get to compete in the National CCDC,\u201d says Keating. \u201cOur mission is to provide that kind of quality learning experience to as many students as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Keating says live contests like these aren\u2019t widely available to students because of the infrastructure and manpower required to run them. Horse Plinko, however, is supported by hundreds of members from the C3 team and Hack@UCF. Previous Horse Plinko competitors returned to help run the next event, bringing their ideas and experience to a new batch of plinkterns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt enables us to design from the perspective of a beginner and tailor the experience to where they&#8217;re at in their learning journey,\u201d Keating says.<\/p>\n<p>First-time competitor Muhammad Ali, a freshman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/degree\/computer-science-bs\/\">computer science <\/a>major, was completely new to cyber competitions. He shunned \u201cblue team\u201d or cyber defense activities, preferring to work on \u201cred team\u201d or cyberattack skills. Despite an obvious interest and acumen in cybersecurity \u2014 he says he hacked into his dad\u2019s computer at the age of 9 \u2014 he says he didn\u2019t think he had the skills to participate.<\/p>\n<p>That all changed after his first experience with Horse Plinko.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a different story when you\u2019re tasked against a whole squad of live red team hackers trying everything to take your services down,\u201d Ali says. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He and his team placed second at the competition. In addition, he\u2019s now scheduled to compete at two out-of-state cyber competitions next month.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI suffer from imposter syndrome where I feel as if I\u2019m not actually good enough for cybersecurity,\u201d says Ali. \u201cSurprisingly a lot of people do. UCF has a great community that has instilled not just self-confidence but acceptance for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ali adds that he has every intention of participating in Horse Plinko again as an attacker on the red team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never thought I\u2019d enjoy Horse Plinko this much,\u201d he says. \u201cI am 100% doing this again next year. If you\u2019re afraid of \u2018blue teaming\u2019, or [are] new to cybersecurity, Horse Plinko is the best place to get first-hand experience.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Horse Plinko, created by Hack@UCF and the UCF Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition Team, gives students the opportunity to defend a fictional company against an active cyberattack.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":143558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[5,24,27],"tags":[973,42246,11806,14918,18102],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-143556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colleges","category-science-technology","category-student-life","tag-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","tag-collegiate-cybersecurity-competition-team","tag-cybersecurity","tag-student-life","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UCF Students Host Live Cyberattack Simulation Contest | University of Central 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