Amman- The "SheHacks" cybersecurity competition, the first of its kind for women in the Middle East, concluded successfully after bringing together a significant number of female participants from across the region.
اضافة اعلان
Organized by The Green Circle Company, the event aimed to encourage young women to explore and excel in the fields of hacking and cybersecurity.
Arab Open University claimed the first-place prize of $5,000, while a tie for second place saw both Al-Zaytouna University and Arab Open University awarded $3,000 each. The third-place tie was secured by Al-Balqa Applied University and Princess Sumaya University of Technology, each receiving $2,000.
Launched under the "Cyber Zero to Hero" program and supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the competition was held in collaboration with the Jordanian Center for Design and Development and Cyber Shield Academy. It was also sponsored by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship and Orange Jordan.
Modeled after "capture the flag" competitions, "SheHacks" challenged participants to solve cybersecurity problems designed to uncover hidden data, known as "flags." Contestants tested their skills in areas such as encryption, reverse engineering, web application and server hacking, and binary vulnerability exploitation.
The competition sought to promote women's participation in cybersecurity careers, enhance gender diversity in the field, and develop participants' problem-solving and technical skills. In addition to technical training, it provided a platform for networking and collaboration among young women in technology, facilitating future job opportunities and professional development.
The competition was open to women aged 17 to 30 who demonstrated a strong interest in information security.
Speaking during the event, Mohammad Al-Khudari, Executive Director of The Green Circle, emphasized the competition’s goal of encouraging female university students, from both public and private institutions, to hone their cybersecurity and ethical hacking skills in a free and supportive environment. He noted that the initiative aims to pave the way for these students to enter the workforce with enhanced qualifications.
Al-Khudari also highlighted the competition’s value to the participating universities, which included 15 institutions. A total of 500 students formed 54 teams, from which 14 advanced to the final round. The top three teams received a total of $10,000 in prize money. He commended the ongoing support from the National Cybersecurity Center and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their contributions to the initiative.
The competition also included preparatory training sessions, providing participants with access to cutting-edge tools and resources. Al-Khudari confirmed that the event will be held annually, with plans to expand the competition to other regions in the future, marking a pioneering initiative for cybersecurity competitions in Jordan.
Additionally, Al-Khudari introduced another initiative, "Cyber Start," aimed at students aged 13 to 18. This program seeks to equip younger generations with the skills to understand emerging technologies and the risks associated with them. The company is also developing training content and programs for this age group, with the goal of nurturing advanced cybersecurity talent for the future.
The "SheHacks" competition progressed through several stages, including registration, training, online preliminary challenges, and a final in-person competition.
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