The 7th edition of Cyberthon Online Competition, held on 3 May 2025, brought together over 550 students from 20 schools across Singapore to compete in a series of challenging cybersecurity tasks.The competition was co-organised by Hwa Chong Institution, the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies, and the Digital and Intelligence Service. This year’s competition emphasised strategy, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving. 

The Guest-of-Honour, Mr. Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education, praised the participants for their dedication and urged them to continue honing their skills. He also unveiled the CSIT Youth Talent Programme (CYPT), a new initiative to nurture future cybersecurity leaders through specialised training and scholarships. 

There were online training sessions conducted for all participants over three Saturdays prior to the online competition.

Themed “Treasure Hunt,” Cyberthon 2025 featured two main segments:  

1. Cyber Slay: A solo Capture-the-Flag (CTF) challenge where participants raced against the clock to solve puzzles and uncover vulnerabilities.  

2. Online Team Competition: A team challenge in which teams of four collaborated to defend systems, crack codes, and secure digital flags.

HCI’s very own student Chen Haowei (C1) emerged as the competition’s star, clinching first place in both the individual and team categories. His passion for cybersecurity, sparked by hacker-themed movies in primary school, exemplifies the power of curiosity and perseverance. 

Cyberthon 2025 ended with a bang on 10 May, culminating in a lively Fiesta and Award Ceremony! The Fiesta featured 10 tech and non-tech activity booths, the inaugural Cyber Slay Challenge, tech trivia, and carnival food! The event was a testament to the talent and potential of Singapore’s youth in the digital age. Congratulations to all participants, and a heartfelt thank you to the organisers and mentors who made this event possible.