Students to attend ethical hacking conference

11th November 2015

A group of computer security students from Sheffield Hallam University have been awarded 'BlackHat' scholarships, giving them free entry to an international conference about ethical hacking.

A total of 12 students from the University's undergraduate and postgraduate computer security courses will travel to Amsterdam to meet the world's top computer security professionals. They will hear from a range of speakers on the future of cyber security, and undergo training on modern ethical hacking techniques. Tickets to BlackHat 2015 usually cost €1,500 each. 'Ethical hacking' is the practice of hacking into designated computer servers in order to test and improve their security, rather than to attempt a malicious attack or steal information. Neil Richardson, senior lecturer in computer security, said: "BlackHat is the world's largest ethical hacking conference, and our students will get a lot out of it. It's very prestigious for so many of them to be awarded this scholarship, and is testament to the hard work they've put in to their studies. "They are all members of our cyber security society, and are part of the vibrant cyber security community we have growing in Sheffield, which includes our own annual ethical hacking conference, Steelcon." For press information: Joe Field in the Sheffield Hallam University press office on 0114 225 2811 or email pressoffice@shu.ac.uk