Yubico backs youth hackathons globally to boost cybersecurity skills

Yubico has provided YubiKeys to more than 20 youth-led hackathons and technology events globally through its Secure It Forward programme.

Through this initiative, Yubico aims to invest in organisations run by young people that host hackathons, supporting the next generation of cybersecurity professionals in gaining real-world, hands-on skills. These events serve to foster collaboration among youths, drive innovation in the field, encourage ethical hacking practices and contribute to global efforts to enhance online security.

Ronnie Manning, Chief Brand Advocate at Yubico, said: "As we see cyber threats continue to rise globally, it's more important than ever to equip the next generation of leaders with the tools and support they need to secure the future. Since day one, our mission at Yubico has been to make the internet safer for everyone - not just through innovation and advancing open standards, but by investing in real-world experiences for young minds to grow, learn and lead in cybersecurity."

Yubico has supported a range of organisations and events over the past ten months, including Scrapyard Sydney in Australia, BuildingBloCS in Singapore, Hackclub Vidisha in India, Future Computing in the United States, Hell Robotics in Norway, MAS Hacks in the United States, Scrapyard Bristol in the United Kingdom, Scrapyard London in the United Kingdom, Scrapyard NoVA in the United States, Scrapyard Silicon Valley in the United States, Swedish National Hacking Team in Sweden and the University of Texas at Dallas in the United States.

Scrapyard Sydney, the largest high school hackathon in Sydney, attracted more than 300 participants and focuses on addressing the limited technology opportunities for teenagers in the city prior to university level. BuildingBloCS in Singapore organises free technology conferences and hackathons for youths aged 13 to 17, awarding YubiKeys as prizes to winning teams at its events.

HackClub Vidisha in India is hosting a 24-hour hackathon for teenagers, where YubiKeys are similarly awarded, and this year, the event will also include a cybersecurity workshop in collaboration with the local police department.

Dhyan Tanna, a 15-year-old organiser of Scrapyard Sydney, described his experiences running such events: "One of the best parts of having a global youth-led cybersecurity community is that everybody is to learn from each other, share ideas, and help each other out. Whether they're a beginner or an expert, having a community of people who have the same passion as them, provides a better environment to succeed in the world of cybersecurity. These hackathons have this unique energy that makes them really special."

"They're super welcoming, and there's more room for creativity compared to traditional cybersecurity events. Instead of following strict guidelines or lectures, you're encouraged to try new things, break stuff, and come up with innovative solutions, while having access to the latest materials in cybersecurity, allowing for a better and more enjoyable and meaningful learning experience. It's all about learning, not just competing, which makes the overall experience more meaningful for the youth."

Formalised in 2021, Yubico's Secure It Forward programme has supplied more than 65,000 YubiKeys to hundreds of organisations in over 20 countries.

Beneficiaries include non-profit organisations, election campaigns, journalists, hackathons and humanitarian workers. Among those supported are The Civil Rights Defenders, The Anti-Defamation League, Freedom of the Press, and Defending Digital Campaigns.

Geoff Schomburgk, Vice President for Asia Pacific at Yubico, highlighted this commitment: "Yubico's commitment to supporting nonprofit organisations such as Scrapyard Sydney, BuildingBloCS Singapore, Hackclub, India, reflects the company's ongoing dedication to strengthening the cybersecurity ecosystem by nurturing young talent and encouraging a passion for problem-solving and innovation."

Yubico's involvement in a broad range of hackathon events takes place throughout the year, providing high school and university students with opportunities to work on real-world cybersecurity projects and build secure systems.