- Industry-focused approach has been key for APU to shape future cyber talent
- Claims its programme develops professionals with practical skills & analytical rigour
The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) secured the top three positions at the University of Malaya Cybersecurity Summit (UMCS) Capture the Flag (CTF) Finals 2025, held on 17–18 May.
CTF competitions test participants’ technical skills and problem-solving under pressure by requiring them to locate hidden “flags” in intentionally vulnerable programmes or websites. The competition was organised by PEKOM, Universiti Malaysia’s computer science club, and co-organised by the Google Developer Group (GDG) on Campus Universiti Malaya, with support from cybersecurity consultancy RE:HACK, a firm known for its focus on vulnerability research and community outreach.
The event brought together some of the brightest minds in cybersecurity from across Malaysia and featured challenges across forensics, blockchain, web exploitation, binary exploitation (PWN), and reverse engineering. According to APU, its performance reflected its strong academic foundation, hands-on learning approach and industry-aligned training. The university claimed that these criteria have formed future-ready professionals equipped with practical expertise and analytical rigour.
Team C0UGH1NGB4BY, composed of students Lee Kuang Weng, Wong Wei Jie, Hong Rui Yi, and Ruhan Aidan Amaradasa, were crowned champions of the competition with 6,178 points, showcasing their technical skills and collaborative problem-solving throughout the Attack & Defence-style competition.
First runner-up was Team Squad Buster, made up of Lee Juen Jiet, Lim Jin Wei, Tan Nick Kean, and Jeremy Phang Kah Chun, with 6,043 points, whilst Team Formal Sweatpants, composed of Shunsuke Tan Hei, Lim Shi Han, and Leong Han Ming, came third with 5,286 points.
All members are students of the BSc (Hons) in Computer Science (Cyber Security) programme and active in APU’s Forensic and Cybersecurity Research Centre – Student Section.
The path to victory began with a preliminary Jeopardy-style round held from 7–13 April 2025, in which seven APU teams competed, five of which qualified for the finals, which featured a highly challenging Attack & Defence format.
In addition to the winning teams, Team Pusumrifa ranked 7th with 3,131 points, and Team Fresh Hasher finished 24th with 1,650 points. Other APU teams in the qualifiers included “just4fun” and “F1R3B0YZ”.
Beyond the competition, students engaged with industry experts, networked with peers, and received mentorship from professionals in the field, thus gaining valuable real-world exposure. Many APU participants are also involved in organising the upcoming Battle of Hackers competition, further underlining their commitment to cybersecurity excellence both in and out of the classroom.
According to APU, this success could not have been possible without the guidance of APU’s academic mentors. Students were coached by Nor Azlina Abd Rahman and Noris Ismail, senior lecturers at APU’s School of Technology, along with Assoc Prof Dr Thang Ka Fei, the school’s senior head.
Their combined efforts in fostering a hands-on, research-driven, and industry-relevant learning ecosystem have played a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of cyber professionals, the university said.
Reflecting on the victory, Assoc Prof Dr Thang Ka Fei said, “This achievement reflects the calibre of our students and the strength of our cybersecurity curriculum. We aim to develop not only academic excellence but also practical capabilities. These results reaffirm APU’s position as a leading institution for producing industry-ready cybersecurity professionals.”
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