Home > Articles > Cisco Network Technology > General Networking > 2011 Collegiate Cyber Defense Challenge: Shaping the Cyber Warriors of Tomorrow

2011 Collegiate Cyber Defense Challenge: Shaping the Cyber Warriors of Tomorrow

  • Date: May 2, 2011.

Contents

  1. What Is CCDC?
  2. Digging In
  3. Things Get Physical

Article Description

Brad Bowers provides an intriguing look into the 2011 Mid-Atlantic CCDC attack-and-defense competition for information technology students. Think it's just an opportunity for youngsters to get away from the campus classroom routine for a couple of days, to do a little roleplaying and check out some new gadgetry? Think again. This intense competition pits young cyber warriors against experienced hackers who attack from every quarter in an attempt to wrest system control from the defenders.

Like this article? We recommend

Computer Incident Response and Product Security

Computer Incident Response and Product Security

$54.99

Things Get Physical

Another element that made the competition a rich learning experience was integrating the many different disciplines of information security. The CCDC competition prides itself on keeping game play as close as possible to what students can expect to encounter in the real corporate world—including incident response and physical security. Competing teams have a myriad of security tools and techniques at their disposal for identifying and pursuing their opposition. If a team believes that it has identified an attacking Red Cell member, the team can submit an incident report detailing the technical evidence that has been collected, and the Red Cell member will be temporarily banded—that is, arrested.

Competing team George Washington University was able to identify the source of system compromises and other malicious activity on its network. Using packet captures, photographs, and a bit of social engineering, the team was able to identify the Red Cell Hacker in its systems, and proceeded to have a mock police force perform an arrest. The hacker was taken to a temporary lockup, where he was questioned about his activity and even bribed with leniency should he divulge the names of other Red Cell Hackers. The inclusion of incident-response and forensics practices helped students to experience and understand the various components that comprise dealing with the collection, proper handling, and presentation of forensic evidence.

What's That Electronic Device Behind My Computer?

Another facet to the game play that makes the Mid-Atlantic CCDC unique is the incorporation of insider threats and physical access. Each year, a small amount of time is allotted to the Red Cell Hackers to have physical access to the competing teams' computing environment when those teams have gone home for the evening or are otherwise occupied. This is a coveted treat for the hackers, who spend time preparing rootkits, password crackers, and keylogging devices to be connected to the teams' systems, in hopes that compromised devices will "phone home" and provide the Red Cell Hackers with control. An addition this year was small eavesdropping devices that were planted under the teams' workspaces. These small listening devices, better known as "GSM bugs," work off the cellular networks, allowing someone to dial in remotely from anywhere in the world, eavesdropping on conversations and activities.

The physical access event is meant to teach students two very valuable lessons:

  • In the event of physical access, most logical security controls such as passwords and network configurations will fail to protect systems. The simple truth is that all bets are off if an attacker can gain direct physical access to systems, even if only for a short time.
  • The second lesson is the importance of considering all aspects of security. It's not enough to implement and consider only logical countermeasures and controls. Students must learn the importance of considering all attack vectors, including the possibility that someone on the inside may not be working in the team's best interest.

These lessons help to solidify the students' understanding of basic security traits such as securing documents that may contain sensitive information, and ensuring that systems are properly locked away before leaving them unwatched for extended periods of time.

The Wrap-Up

At the end of the second day of the Mid-Atlantic CCDC, it's plain to see the toll that two days of nearly constant attack-and-defense have taken on the teams, as they wait patiently to hear who the winner is and who will be moving forward to the national competition. Each team has had to deal with system compromises, incident response, physical security threats, and even attacks against cutting-edge wireless systems that were completely new to them. While many teams don't make it to the national competition, each participant has gained valuable skills and experience. Each student walks away with a better understanding and appreciation of the many facets of information security, along with the dedication it takes to succeed in this constantly changing field.

Cisco Press Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Cisco Press and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Cisco Press products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@ciscopress.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Cisco Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.ciscopress.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020