For the first time, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, female ITS students, both with and without prior knowledge, gathered to explore the topic of "Capture the Flag" (CTF) together. Whether pro or beginner: The focus was on enjoying the game and fostering connections among like-minded women!
First Challenges Completed
Led by Johanna Schenkel and Selina Danelzik, currently the only two female members of the CTF team of the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), the participants were introduced to the world of CTF and got to know the FluxFingers team. Afterwards, attendees tried their hand at solving initial challenges together and spark their enthusiasm for the game. During the following networking accompanied by a catering of “Nährstoff-Reich”, there was plenty of opportunity to exchange ideas, get to know each other better, and establish valuable contacts. Further meetings are already planned until the event is merged with the regular weekly meetings of the main team.
Why a CTF Event Especially for Women
Despite progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in the field of IT security and CTF competitions, hindering diversity and the untapped potential of female empowerment. Therefore, the event was specifically aimed at women to initiate and further female interest in hacking and CTF games.
CASA PI and FluxFingers supporter Veelasha Moonsamy highlights: "For women, it's not always easy to establish themselves in a male-dominated area like CTF, despite their interest. They lack female role models and a safe space where they can initially experiment. This is exactly the gap that the introductory event aims to close: In a supportive female environment women gain the confidence to excel, contributing their full potential to the main team later.”
IT(S) Students and CTF Enthusiasts Wanted!
Are you a female IT(S) student or simply interested in CTF? Find more information about the FluxFinger team in general on this website.
Capture the Flag
CTF is a competitive game where multiple teams compete against each other in challenges related to IT security Despite the existence of the RUB team FluxFingers since 2007, female participation has been limited until recent years. Initiatives like the women-specific introductory event, alongside programs like the WISC workshop and the Creative.Minds workshop, aim to address this imbalance.
General note: In case of using gender-assigning attributes we include all those who consider themselves in this gender regardless of their own biological sex.