ITS Students Triumph at National Network Competition 3.0, Dominating the Cybersecurity Category

ITS Team that Advanced to the Final of the National Networking Competition 3.0

Surabaya, IT Journalistic — Students from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) once again achieved outstanding success at the National Network Competition 3.0 (Netcomp 3.0), organized by the Forum Komunikasi Teknologi Rekayasa Internet, Vocational School, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). This competition took place through a series of events from early January to early February 2025, covering various competitions in networking and cybersecurity.

ITS ‘Fried Fermented Soybean’ Team won 1st Place in Cybersecurity CTF at Netcomp 3.0

In the Cybersecurity Capture The Flag (CTF) category, ITS students dominated the top ranks. Muhammad Azril Fathoni, a student from the Department of Information Technology (DTI) ITS, along with his team “Fried Fermented Soybean,” consisting of Fawwaz Razani and Jericho Nathanael, secured first place. Meanwhile, the team “Nama yang Gaje Ketika Dipanggil Podium,” whose members all came from DTI ITS—Ardhi Putra Pradana, Ahmad Idza Anafin, and Jacinta Syilloam—secured second place. In addition, Azril also won second place in the Hology 7.0 CTF 2024, organized by the Faculty of Computer Science (FILKOM), Universitas Brawijaya. In this event, Azril competed in the Capture The Flag (CTF) category, which tested participants’ skills in system security analysis and identifying vulnerabilities, further strengthening the dominance of DTI ITS students in technology and cybersecurity.

The competition consisted of two main stages: an online qualification round and an offline final, using the Boot2Root format. In the final stage, participants had to penetrate security systems using advanced exploitation techniques. This challenge not only tested technical expertise but also required participants to collaborate under tight time constraints.

Faced with these challenges, ITS teams remained focused despite the high pressure. The leader of “Fried Fermented Soybean,” Muhammad Azril Fathoni, revealed that they had dropped to second place towards the end of the competition. “We felt the pressure, but my teammate managed to find a crucial clue that helped us reclaim first place,” he said. Ahmad Idza Anafin, a member of “Nama yang Gaje Ketika Dipanggil Podium,” shared a similar challenge. They had fallen behind in the qualification round but managed to recover and advance to the finals.

ITS ‘Nama yang Gaje Ketika Dipanggil Podium’ Team won 12nd Place in Cybersecurity CTF at Netcomp 3.0

These stories of perseverance highlight the importance of strong mentality and adaptability in such competitions. In the intense final round, participants were required to think quickly and remain calm under pressure. Jacinta Syilloam, Ahmad’s teammate, added that the challenge felt like the final exam for the Ethical Hacking course.

Recognizing the challenges they faced and the valuable experiences gained, the winners also shared advice for students interested in cybersecurity and similar competitions. They emphasized the importance of mastering fundamental IT concepts such as Linux operating systems, computer networks, and cybersecurity before diving deeper into hacking. Additionally, they recommended regularly participating in CTF competitions to become familiar with the challenge patterns and pressure of the competition.

Beyond mastering hacking techniques, joining cybersecurity communities is also a crucial step to improve skills and exchange experiences with more experienced practitioners. They also stressed that failure in competitions should not be seen as a setback but rather as an opportunity to learn and grow.

The success of ITS students in NetComp 3.0 proves that they can compete at a national level and are well-prepared to face the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. This achievement not only showcases their technical excellence but also their resilience and readiness to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges.

IT Journalistic
04 Februari 2025
Azzahra Sekar Rahmadina