The Hacking Games

Ever wondered who protects the #digital world? Or how YOU could be the hero defending it? Join us for an exciting virtual assembly to discover what it means to be a Digital Defender and learn the skills to thrive in the fascinating world of #cybersecurity and #digital #innovation. Fergus Hay – Visionary Co-Founder of The Hacking Games, Fergus is inspiring a generation of Ethical Hackers to make the world safer. With $23.8 trillion forecasted to be lost to cybercrime by 2027 and 80% of teenagers having hacked by 16, Fergus is on a mission to equip young minds to be defenders, not attackers. Gregory Francis, BEM JP 4D Cyber Security– A real-life cyber detective, Greg specializes in digital forensics and uncovering the tricks cybercriminals use. Think of him as the Sherlock Holmes of the digital world – ready to show you how to investigate and secure against threats. Sina Najafi – F4S University Ambassador and MSc Artificial Intelligence student at University of East London. With nearly a decade of experience in finance, banking, startups, and tech, Sina brings specialized expertise in anomaly detection and fraud prevention. What You’ll Get: *Discover how YOU can join the digital defense team *Learn how cybersecurity skills are like personal superpowers *See how professionals like Fergus, Greg, and Sina tackle real-world cyber challenges *Explore your own path in tech – whether it’s gaming, coding, or problem-solving This is your chance to meet inspiring role models, ask questions, and explore how you can thrive in a digital world. Cybersecurity isn’t just for adults – it’s for anyone with a passion for learning, creativity, and making the world safer. This could be your first step toward becoming a Digital Defender! Don’t miss out – the future needs YOU! #CyberSecurity #DigitalDefenders #EthicalHacking #TechCareers #STEMForStudents #FutureLeaders #MATs Ark | United Learning | Harris Federation | Mulberry Schools Trust

Have you heard my latest news? I've had to keep this a secret but finally I can share it with you. I’m beyond humbled and deeply grateful to be included in the King’s New Year Honours List and to receive an MBE for services to women in cybersecurity. 🏅 This recognition is not just about me—it’s a testament to the amazing women I’ve worked with, the mentors who've guided me, and the communities that have believed in the importance of creating space for diversity in such a critical field. Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. I'm sure you've heard me say this a lot. And empowering women in cyber isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s essential for building a safer, more inclusive digital future for us all. So, thank you to everyone who's been part of my journey so far. Special thanks to Tee Patel, Jessica Barker MBE PhD, Dr. Lauren Goodwin, Daniel Cuthbert, Dr. Reem Faraj AlShammari, Tim Anderson, Jacqui Kernot, Katherine Kuehn, Helen Rabe MBA, Simon Legg, Chris Mohan, Berin Lautenbach, Sophie De Ferranti, Chani Simms, Rav Bumbra, Sarah Armstrong-Smith, Lisa Forte, Karla Reffold, Darren Argyle, Anna Collard 🌻, Confidence Staveley, Jinan Budge, Dr Magda Chelly, Helen Yu, Chris Roberts, C. Kelly Bissell, Carmina Lees, Kristen Sesto, Guy O'brien, Carmen Marsh, Sandro Bucchianeri, Kendra Ross 💡Giovanni Cozzolino, Shamane Tan, Rinki Sethi, Fareedah Shaheed, Dee D., Quentyn Taylor, Phil Huggins, Bronwyn B., Tinesh Chhaya. Let’s continue to break barriers, challenge norms, and inspire the next generations to lead in cybersecurity. 🚀💻 Tune in to my video for more detail. Finally, let me know in the comments what more actions we need to take to get more women into cyber (or tech), and remaining in it. #MBE #Cybersecurity #DiversityInTech #Gratitude #NewYearNewGoals

We are happy to welcome Caitlin Sarian as a Global Ambassador for the United States at the Global Council for Responsible AI! Caitlin is a multi-award-winning cybersecurity influencer, speaker, and leader, with over 11 years of experience in the cybersecurity field. Starting her career with a background in aerospace engineering and engineering management, Caitlin quickly found her passion for cybersecurity. Her drive and expertise propelled her to the position of director in just eight years. As the founder of Cybersecurity Girl LLC, Caitlin has created one of the largest cybersecurity social media brands worldwide, reaching over 1.4 million followers and generating 20-30 million impressions monthly. Through her influential platform, she is dedicated to: 💡 Educating the public on online safety 💡 Inspiring women to pursue STEM careers 💡 Fostering a more inclusive and secure cyberspace Caitlin’s mission and her new role with the Global Council for Responsible AI align seamlessly. She is committed to advancing ethical practices in AI, advocating for transparent, equitable, and secure technologies that prioritize privacy and data protection. As a Global Ambassador, Caitlin aspires to use her expertise and influence to collaborate with industry leaders, shaping AI policies that promote user safety, trust, and sustainability. Her vision is to help build a digital future where responsible AI serves humanity with integrity and fairness. We are honored to have Caitlin join our Council and excited for the impactful contributions she will bring to our global initiative! Please join us in welcoming Caitlin Sarian! #ResponsibleAI #Cybersecurity #EthicalAI #WomenInSTEM #AIforGood #GlobalCouncilForResponsibleAI #CaitlinSarian United Cybersecurity Alliance

Something I often don't agree with in this industry is the perception of expectations vs. reality when it comes to cybercriminals. A lot of cybersecurity experts paint them as wizards dropping 0days, but in actuality, most cybercrime is so basic that a 16-year-old could do it—and they literally do. Every now and then, this reality comes to the surface, like when you read about an APT using ChatGPT to make a basic script, and there's surprise. But, believe it or not, actual technically skilled cybercriminals are somewhat rare. You can literally learn to use automated tools in specific contexts without understanding what's happening on a technical or deeper level. A cybercriminal might know the methodology to find a specific type of web application vulnerability and then use that methodology to identify a vulnerability. From there, they might just know that they can feed it to SQLmap with specific flags to pull data out, but they don't understand manual exploitation. The same concept applies to post-exploitation, etc. Then there's the argument, "Yeah, but you're describing script kiddies, who rarely get into anything." No, I’m not. I’m describing most cybercriminals. Most of them don’t care about labels. They just care about doing the quickest and easiest thing that works. Why make it complicated for themselves? I did cybercrime for like half a decade, had access to practically every forum and network there was at the time, and after typing to maybe 100+ people, there are only a handful that actually stick out to me as technically skilled—all of whom had been doing it for decades. This whole conversation ties into another discussion about how you need 100 certifications, a degree, and other qualifications to get a job. Meanwhile, Boris decided to team up with Sergey on a forum because they liked each other and had a passion for cybercrime, and now they're causing massive problems for everyone. The whole thing is just a massive disconnect. The industry focuses on years of experience, certifications, and whatever else, meanwhile cybercriminals operate effectively with just a basic understanding of tools and methodologies. Honestly, at some point, I think passion should just overtake whatever formal requirements exist.