TU Wien Informatics

Ethical Hacking

In today’s interconnected world, securing digital systems is more critical than ever. At TU Wien Informatics, we are committed to training the next generation of Cybersecurity Experts.

In today’s interconnected world, securing digital systems is more critical than ever. At TU Wien Informatics, we are dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of Cybersecurity Experts, and to provide them with the knowledge and tools they need to develop secure solutions for a safe digital future.

With all or efforts in Ethical Hacking, we want to build and foster a community of skilled cybersecurity professionals who are committed to protecting digital infrastructures.

Starting at the bachelor level, we offer specializations in Cybersecurity, and with our practical experience and interdisciplinary collaborations, we equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to develop secure solutions, and uphold ethical standards in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Join us in shaping a safer, more resilient digital future.

Highlights

Our Mission

 Marco Squarcina, Headcoach of Team Austria
Marco Squarcina, Headcoach of Team Austria

Our mission is to educate and train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals through hands-on ethical hacking training. We actively engage in research projects that address cybersecurity challenges, and we take our commitment to share our knowledge and experience in the field of cybersecurity seriously. We also raise awareness about cybersecurity threats that affect our world, and we provide practical learning experiences for students that foster collaboration and teamwork so they can effectively tackle cybersecurity challenges. Our goal? To create a safer digital future for all.

People have been asking me for many years why I include offensive security topics in my teaching – but the thing I always tell them is: How can you design a secure lock if you never picked one? You need to master lockpicking techniques to create a solution that will withstand even the most sophisticated attacks. And there is no way to do so without understanding these attacks in detail and practicing them.

Marco Squarcina, Headcoach of Team Austria

Research Centers and Projects

 

TU Wien Cybersecurity Center

  • Interfaculty

The overarching goal of the TU Wien Cybersecurity Center is to consolidate, strengthen, and expand the diverse interfaculty expertise and initiatives already in place, establishing TU Wien as an internationally recognized and leading center of excellence for cutting-edge research, innovative teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful societal outreach in the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity.

SPyCoDe

  • Interuniversitary

The Semantic and Cryptographic Foundations of Security and Privacy by Compositional Design (SPyCoDe) special research programme takes a comprehensive approach to security and privacy of IT architectures by focussing on cross-layer interfaces.

Teaching and Education

We are dedicated to excellence in our research activities, but we are equally dedicated to excellence when it comes to teaching and education. Our vision: To create a space where people can thrive, and their curiosity can become cutting-edge research. Beyond our dedication to excellence, our research and education efforts go hand in hand with a strong commitment to society. At TU Wien Informatics, you’ll learn from the best and are integrated into an international research community, and a good balance between teachers and students helps you to reach your full potential.

Competitions

Competitions are an integral part of Ethical Hacking, offering participants opportunities to learn, grow, and be part of a wider community.

Matteo Maffei, Professor Security and Privacy

Austria Cybersecurity Challenge

The Austria Cybersecurity Challenge (ACSC) is a Capture-The-Flag (CTF) competition for talents in the field of cybersecurity organized by Cyber Security Austria . People from all over Austria put their know-how to the test in two age groups and one open category. But it’s not only about the competitions: The young hackers find like-minded people and peers among themselves, as well as contact with mentors, trainers, and potential employers. The ACSC is organized with support from the Federal Chancellary, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Austrian Armed Forces.

European Cybersecurity Challenge

The European Cybersecurity Challenge (ECSC) is a competition where national teams of young talents ages 14-24 compete in CTF cybersecurity challenges. The competition runs for several days and is supported by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) . Since its conception, the ECSC has attracted the interest of a growing number of European countries and international stakeholders – so much so that it has been termed ‘the Eurovision‘ of cybersecurity. Each year, it is organized and hosted by a different European country to crown the European cybersecurity champion. openECSC, which runs parallel to the ECSC, invites participants of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, welcoming cybersecurity enthusiasts worldwide to showcase their skills and join the ethical hacking community.

We_0wn_Y0u

We_0wn_Y0u is a CTF team of students and lecturers from TU Wien and the University of Vienna. They are supported by SBA Research , as well as TU Wien’s and the University of Vienna’s Security and Privacy Research Groups. We_0wn_Y0u is always looking for motivated people that think hacking competitions are fun and want to learn something new and sharpen their hacking skills.

Partners and Outreach Initiatives

Cybersecurity Austria

  • Partner

Cyber Security Austria (CSA) is a non-profit, independent, and non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing Austria’s security infrastructure. Its mission is to raise awareness, address organizational and non-technical challenges, and establish a foundation for state-level crisis management for emerging cybersecurity threats. CSA also organizes the Austrian Cybersecurity Challenge, the country’s first IT security talent search, aimed at identifying and recruiting young, skilled professionals.

SBA Research

  • Partner

SBA Research was founded in 2006 as the first Austrian research center for information security by the TU Wien, the Graz University of Technology and the University of Vienna. Through scientific research of information security we develop practical and applicable solutions, while focusing on current issues like cyber security. SBA Research is by now the largest research center in Austria which exclusively addresses information security. The center is part of the FFG Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies.

Shecurity

  • Outreach

We offer regular and free training courses to girls and women who are interested in IT security and eager to learn more about the technical aspects of security. Our hacker training courses provide a unique opportunity to deeply immerse yourself in the fascinating world of digital defense and offense. Additionally, these courses allow participants to explore the diversity of the field and gain exposure to a wide range of creative perspectives and innovative approaches.

Contact

Want to talk to real people about the challenges we face? Here are the leading experts and primary contacts for Cybersecurity.

Contact
Marco Squarcina

Marco Squarcina

Senior Scientist
Contact
Matteo Maffei

Matteo Maffei

Full Professor

News and Events

Recent highlights, events, and news from all our efforts in the Ethical Hacking community.
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