• “Hack-A-Sat” is holding its fourth annual competitors on the DEF CON convention in Las Vegas.
• The competition is sponsored by the US authorities and has a prize of $50,000.
• The competitors is supposed to assist the federal government construct up its assets in opposition to international hackers.

It appears counterintuitive for the US authorities to cheer on hackers concentrating on its satellites, however that is simply what’s occurring this weekend at Hack-A-Sat 4.

The “Hack-A-Sat,” based by the US House Pressure and Air Pressure, is a capture-the-flag-like contest often consisting of qualification and ultimate occasions, based on its particulars, throughout which hackers use {hardware} that simulates breaking right into a real-life satellite tv for pc and getting access to its knowledge.

The competition was initially dreamed up within the hopes of bettering defenses in opposition to threats to cybersecurity more and more confronted by the US authorities — particularly from doubtlessly hostile international powers — by permitting the federal government to observe how hackers would assault and beef up its understanding of superior hacking.

For the primary time, this yr’s iteration of the competitors may have hackers working to interrupt into the House Pressure satellite tv for pc Moonlighter, a check satellite tv for pc designed as a “hacking sandbox” that may enable superior evaluation of cybersecurity threats.

Throughout the competitors, hackers work frantically to interrupt into the Moonlighter satellite tv for pc to realize entry to its knowledge whereas preventing off the opposite groups from attacking their very own techniques, based on the competition particulars.

The primary-place group will win $50,000, the second-place group will win $30,000, and the third-place group will take house $20,000.

In line with an interview with House Pressure Capt. Kevin Bernert given to Politico, the federal government hopes the competitors will creatively contain all kinds of individuals expert in cyber networks.

“We do not need to simply be an enormous, monolithic group,” mentioned Bernert to Politico. “We need to get as many individuals well concerned. And so the long-term impression in that’s to know that you must bake in cybersecurity — you do not simply bolt it on afterwards.”

5 groups have made it to the ultimate spherical, together with Poland Can Into House, final yr’s profitable group. Winners of this yr’s competitors might be introduced on Sunday.

The Air Pressure, House Pressure, and Bernert didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark despatched exterior common enterprise hours.