CyberSpartans Cybersecurity Summer Camp

July 8-12, 2024

CyberSpartans Summer Camp was an intensive, five-day program held online from 9 am to 1 pm each day. The camp focused on providing a foundation in cybersecurity and raising students' interest in the field. Each day was designed to build on the previous day's learning, culminating in a well-rounded understanding of cybersecurity principles and practices. We hope that this camp has sparked a lasting interest in cybersecurity and equipped students with the foundational skills to pursue further studies and careers in this critical field.

Day 1: Introduction to Cybersecurity

The camp began with an introduction to the world of cybersecurity, covering its importance in today's digital age, the current state of the field, and different career paths. Students also learned about the fundamental concepts of cybersecurity, including the types of cyber threats, the role of cryptography, and the significance of controls in protecting data and systems. This session aimed to inspire and motivate students to pursue further learning and a possible career in cybersecurity.

Day 2: Linux Fundamentals

Speaker: James Risler - Cisco

Day 2 started with an overview of the operating system and its importance in cybersecurity. Students were introduced to basic Linux commands, file system navigation, and essential command-line tools. Hands-on activities helped students practice these commands, providing them with practical skills and confidence in using Linux, a critical skill for any aspiring cybersecurity professional.

Day 3: Network Security

Speaker: Angela Ramos - University of Tampa

On Day 3, students learned about the basics of networking and common network protocols. The sessions also introduced the OSI model and the essential network security tools such as Nmap, a powerful network scanning tool, and Wireshark, a network protocol analyzer. Students gained hands-on experience in using these tools to detect vulnerabilities and analyze network traffic, reinforcing the theoretical concepts covered.

Day 4: Access Control

Speaker: Nicholas Fadden - ReliaQuest, University of Tampa

On the fourth day, the topic was access control. This session covered the principles of authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA). Students learned about different methods of access control, including password policies, multi-factor authentication, and role-based access control. Students had the opportunity to learn about different types of password attacks and techniques. Practical examples and case studies illustrated the importance of implementing strong access control measures to protect sensitive information and systems from unauthorized access.

Day 5: Web Security

Speaker: Ben Syn - KnowBe4

The final day of the camp was dedicated to web security. Students were introduced to HTML, CSS, and SQL languages and common web vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). The session emphasized the importance of secure coding practices and provided an overview of various tools and techniques for testing and securing web applications. Through demonstrations and exercises, students learned how to identify and mitigate these vulnerabilities, ensuring a secure web presence.

Thank you for participating in the camp.

We look forward to your future contributions to the cybersecurity community!

The University of Tampa’s GenCyber camp, CyberSpartans, is geared towards high school students with the objective of providing foundational cybersecurity knowledge, increasing the interest of a diverse group of students in cybersecurity education and careers, and creating awareness for safe online behavior. The five-day camp with pre- and post-camp activities aims to ignite students’ interest and give them the opportunity to have hands-on experiences through microcomputers, games, puzzles and group exercises, and the opportunity to interact with computer science and cybersecurity professors and industry experts.
 

Camp activities involving group work and gamified content will offer a student-centric learning environment. The participants will interact with instructors and experts with varying backgrounds for exposure to different perspectives in cybersecurity and cyber ethics, preparing them for a successful post-secondary education and cybersecurity career.
 

The camp will be hosted on UT’s campus in the Jenkins Health and Technology Building, which houses a Security Operations Center, Cyber Range and the Makerspace lab. After completing the camp, participants will receive a completion certification, camp T-shirt and camp bag.
 

Camp Dates and Locations

Pre-camp Date: 9 a.m.—12 p.m. on April 29, May 13, May 20, and June 3, 2023
Location: Online

Camp Date: June 5-9, 2023
Location: Jenkins Health and Technology Building, University of Tampa

Post-camp Date: updated - Fall meetings will be announced
Location: TBA
 

Camp Program

June 5: Introduction to Cybersecurity
June 6: Cryptography
June 7: Defense in Depth
June 8: Identification and Authentication
June 9: Think Like an Adversary
 

Important Information about the Camp

• No background in cybersecurity is needed.
• We encourage students with diverse abilities and from diverse communities to apply.
• Priority will be given to rising sophomores and juniors at the time of the camp.
• Barring sickness, every student is expected to have full participation in online meetings and camp meetings.
• The camp is free for all attendees. Materials, snacks and lunch will be provided.

Space is limited. The selected students will be contacted through the provided email in April.
 

For questions email ayayla@ut.edu, Alper Yayla, camp program director.

The application period is over.

The camp is funded by a grant from the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation through their GenCyber program.