Canberra students participate in ethical hacking bootcamp

High school students in Canberra participated in the re_B00TCMP cyber security bootcamp, a program designed to teach ethical hacking and the legal boundaries of digital activities. Hosted by the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) and led by the Australian Federal Police, the event took place at the University of New South Wales Canberra City campus.

Thirty-five students aged 12 to 18, selected for their technical skills and curiosity, engaged in a “Capture the Flag” competition involving code cracking and vulnerability identification. The initiative aims to steer technically gifted youth toward legitimate cyber security careers rather than cybercrime.

Supported by the Australian Signals Directorate, SANS Institute, and UNSW, the program also included sessions for parents, teachers, and carers. These sessions focused on monitoring online activities and understanding risks such as the dark web, social media threats, and online hacking forums.