Adrian Johnson
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TLDR:
- A Chinese hacking competition at Northwestern Polytechnical University raised suspicions of targeting a real victim.
- Participants were required to keep activities secret, delete backdoors, and sign a legal responsibility document.
Article Summary:
A hacking competition held at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China, known as the Zhujian Cup, raised concerns among Western researchers about potential espionage motives. The competition, which required participants to keep their activities secret and delete backdoors they created, had unusual terms and pledges that suggested a secretive and unorthodox purpose.
Participants were not allowed to discuss their tasks, copy data, or exploit vulnerabilities for personal gain, under the risk of legal responsibility if any information leaks caused harm. The competition, hosted by a university affiliated with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, had ties to the Chinese government and military.
The researchers found no evidence of a real-world victim being targeted, but the secretive nature of the contest, the legal obligations imposed on participants, and the absence of information about the cyber range used raised red flags. China has been actively recruiting cyber talent through hacking competitions since 2015, with a focus on strengthening cybersecurity education and capabilities.
While Capture The Flag competitions are common worldwide, China’s emphasis on developing its talent pool and regulating such contests has led to a robust hacking ecosystem in the country. The researchers highlighted the potential risks and implications of involving students in activities that could have legal consequences in intelligence operations.
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