NCHC successfully hosted a hybrid CTF cybersecurity competition in collaboration with Taiwan's cybersecurity community

The National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC), under the National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), partnered with the Next Digital Security Cluster (NDS) to host the 2024 Cyber Guardian Grand Challenge (CGGC). The final round of the competition took place on December 6 at the Cybersecurity & Smart Technology R&D Building in Tainan’s Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City. This year’s competition marked a groundbreaking integration of cyber-physical systems (CPS) technology and Large Language Model (LLM) elements. Real-time cybersecurity attack-and-defense demonstrations, combined with rapid movements of physical scoring machines, created an unprecedented level of intensity and sensory impact. After fierce competition, Team “海狗再打十年” emerged as the champion, winning a prize of NT$100,000.

The 2024 CGGC attracted nearly 150 teams and 500 participants, including several high school students, highlighting the competition's growing popularity among high schools and universities in Taiwan. The competition introduced innovative applications of AI and CPS technologies to the traditional “Capture the Flag” (CTF) format, enhancing the technical challenges and delivering an immersive hybrid experience. For the first time, the competition incorporated LLM-enabled generative AI interactions, offering a novel way for participants to showcase their hacking skills. By engaging in dialogues with the platform, contestants uncovered hidden challenges while tackling cybersecurity issues such as prompt injection and data poisoning.
 

Deputy Director General Meng-Hsun Tsai of the National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC) (middle) awarded to the first place "海狗再打十年"

The 2024 CGGC consisted of two stages: an online preliminary round and an in-person final round. The 36-hour preliminary round, held on NCHC’s Cloud Defense Exercise Platform (CDX), followed the Jeopardy-style CTF format, with the top 10 teams advancing to the finals. The final round, hosted at the Shalun base, required participants to demonstrate offensive tactics, quickly identify and secure system vulnerabilities, and implement effective defenses. The event also integrated physical devices and simulated environments, enabling real-time situational control during attacks and defenses. In addition to the competition, a CTF technical exchange workshop was held on the day of the finals. Senior CTF challenge designers and experienced participants shared their insights and expertise, fostering knowledge exchange within the cybersecurity technology community.

To strengthen cybersecurity capacity in southern Taiwan, the 2024 Cyber Guardian Grand Challenge (CGGC) invited key local cybersecurity communities, including National Cheng Kung University’s Cybersecurity Club, UCCU Hacker, and FRC 6998 from National Nanke International Experimental High School, to participate. The event was further supported by ACW South, which brought together resources from industry, government, academia, and research institutions in southern Taiwan to create a more robust cybersecurity ecosystem. The competition not only enhanced technical collaboration in the field but also provided a platform for students passionate about cybersecurity and robotics to showcase their talents.

Deputy Director General Meng-Hsun Tsai of the National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC) remarked, “Cybersecurity is an essential element for all industries. Through this competition, NCHC aims to provide a platform for academia to showcase their skills and foster passion and expertise in the field of cybersecurity. We hope to inspire more young talent to pursue careers in this critical industry, further strengthening Taiwan's cybersecurity defenses.” Po-Yi Li, Chief of the Network & Cybersecurity Division at NCHC, added, “This year’s competition was unprecedented, successfully integrating cyber-physical systems and AI technologies. It’s particularly exciting to see more young people, including high school students, showing strong interest in cybersecurity, indicating that cybersecurity education and awareness are taking root at an earlier stage.”

The 2024 Cyber Guardian Grand Challenge concluded successfully, marking a new milestone for cybersecurity competitions in Taiwan. Moving forward, NCHC will continue organizing such events to deepen collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions, further enhancing Taiwan’s global competitiveness in the cybersecurity field.

Professor Jung-Shian Li, from National Cheng Kung University (middle), presented the second prize to "是不是隊名有海豹就能得獎"

Group photo of all 2024 CGGC contestants