GCHQ launches 2019 CyberFirst Girls cyber-security competition

GCHQ has launched the 2019 round of the CyberFirst Girls cyber-security competition, challenging teams of school-aged girls to develop and test their digital security skills.

The cyber-security field has been growing at a massive rate in the past several years as companies try to stay one step ahead of hackers and prevent data breaches that could cost them millions. Women reportedly only make up 11% of the global cyber-security workforce today despite the fact that thousands of women did pioneering cryptography work during World War II.

GCHQ wants to help change that, which is why every year they run the CyberFirst Girls cyber-security competition for teams of girls from schools across the UK who are interested in the field. This year's competition has now opened for applications, and will feature challenges in four categories: Networking, Logic and Coding, Cyber Security, and Cryptography.

The girls will learn skills and answer as many questions about these fields as they can throughout the competition, earning badges for their team and unlocking more difficult challenges. The top ten teams then compete in a face-to-face final event for £1,000 in school computer equipment and individual prizes. Applications are open now at https://www.cyberfirst.ncsc.gov.uk/girlscompetition/ and will close on January 21st.

Source: National Cyber Security Centre