ASEAN Battle of Hackers (ABOH) 2023 Triumphs, Transformations, and Cybersecurity Champions

The ASEAN Battle of Hackers (ABOH) 2023, an upscaled flagship cybersecurity competition, unfolded on December 2, 2023, captivating participants and sponsors alike with its innovative approach and international flair.

Winners of the ASEAN and local categories at the ASEAN Battle of Hackers (ABOH) 2023 joyfully celebrate their achievements with the organiser and sponsors on stage during the event's finale. 

The event showcased resilience, innovation, and collaboration within the regional cybersecurity community.

In total, 409 participants from 141 teams engaged in both local and ASEAN categories of ABOH 2023. Notably, 29 universities participated, with the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) contributing 50 teams.

​Organised by APU FSeC-SS, ABOH 2023 stood out by expanding its reach to an ASEAN-wide competition.

Spearheaded by Ms. Nor Azlina Abd Rahman and Ms. Noris Ismail, both advisors of APU Forensics and Cyber Security Research Center - Student Section (FSeC-SS), who also serve as lecturers in the School of Technology (SoT), ABOH 2023 stood out by expanding its reach to an ASEAN-wide competition.

This decision not only marked a departure from the previous year's format but also broadened the competition internationally and introduced a workshop format that contributed to the event's success. University students from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, and Singapore participated, both physically and online, highlighting the event's adaptability and inclusivity.

In the ASEAN category, Team Oubaitori from the National Institute of Technology Malang, Indonesia, secured the Champion position, followed by Team iMonkee Pro Max Ultra made up of students from the National University of Singapore, Team Bømbåstïç S¡dë £¥€ of Politeknik Mersing Johor, Malaysia, clinched 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.

In the Local category, Team Kasturi consisting of Danisy Eisyraf bin Yusni Afindi, Vincent Chin Wen Shen, and Koh Li Hom of APU emerged as the Champion, followed by Team Cincai of Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) as 1st runner-up. Team L0stPaR4d0x with Kelvin Teo Wen Loong, Mohin Paramasivam, and Loh Kae Shyan of APU secured 2nd runner-up.

Mr. Nik Naharuddin, Director of Talent & Capability, Digital Emablers Division of MDEC, shared his insights and expertise during the opening ceremony. 

The Jeopardy-style Capture the Flag (CTF) event kicked off with an opening ceremony at 9:00 AM, followed by a 6-hour competition that concluded at 4:30 PM. Notably, the competition happened both offline and online, with Microsoft Teams facilitating the opening and closing for online participants.

The ASEAN Battle of Hackers (ABOH) 2023 competition took place offline and online, challenging participants to test their knowledge and skills comprehensively.

The heart of ABOH 2023 lies in its diverse Jeopardy-style CTF challenges, developed by the APU FSEC-SS. Challenges spanned domains such as Cryptography, Forensics, Web Vulnerabilities, Reverse Engineering, and more, providing a comprehensive test of participants' knowledge and skills.

Judging criteria focused on cybersecurity skills and ethical conduct. Teams earned points for solving challenges, with individual contributions tracked. Adherence to competition rules was crucial, with violations leading to disqualification, emphasising fair play and responsible cybersecurity practices.

The event garnered significant sponsorships from companies such as EC Council, Wissen, AirAsia, MDEC, NOH4TS, PWC, and AWS. VIPs from these sponsors shared insights and expertise during the opening and closing ceremonies, enriching the overall experience.

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APU Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer Prof. Dr. Vinesh Thiruchelvam (centre) launched the guidebook “A Beginner's Guide to CTF” authored by Ms. Nor Azlina Abd Rahman and APU FSeC-SS committee members Chen Lik Ken and Yeo Jia Qi.

ABOH 2023 introduced transformative elements, including internationalisation, a workshop format, and the release of a comprehensive guide titled A Beginner's Guide to CTF on Amazon, authored by Ms. Nor Azlina Abd Rahman and committee members Chen Lik Ken and Yeo Jia Qi.

Apart from that, ABOH 2023 featured a dynamic Threat Hunting Workshop led by Dr. Meisam from the EC-Council, attracting 176 participants. This hands-on session focused on threat hunting, enriching participants' skill sets and providing valuable insights into real-world cybersecurity challenges.

ABOH 2023's resounding success underscores the dedication of its organisers, the outstanding skills exhibited by participants, and the evolution of ABOH into a premier Capture the Flag (CTF) competition in the ASEAN region. As Malaysia’s Premier Digital Tech University, APU takes pride in orchestrating the seamless conclusion of this impactful event.

Central to APU's cybersecurity excellence is the Cyber Security Talent Zone (CSTZ), featuring a state-of-the-art Cyber Threats Simulation and Response Centre (Cyber Range) and a vigilant Security Operations Centre (SOC) monitoring real-time data from a global cyber-attacks database.

APU's commitment extends to its comprehensive curriculum across programmes like BSc (Hons) Information Technology with a Specialism in Information Systems Security, BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Cyber Security), BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Digital Forensics, and the Master of Science in Cyber Security, where theoretical knowledge seamlessly integrates with practical content, preparing students for the dynamic challenges of the cybersecurity landscape.

​Being appointed among the pioneer group of universities as a Premier Digital Tech Institution (PDTI) by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) since 2017, APU's strength and dedication to producing high-quality graduates are further underscored by its achievements in the MDEC PDTI Outstanding Faculty Award 2022.