Latest news with #CapturetheFlag
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Shafaq News
Brainpower and bytes: Iraq's race for AI supremacy
Shafaq News/ Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force shaping global competition, innovation, and governance in the 21st century. Nations around the world are racing to harness AI to strengthen economies, improve public services, and bolster national security. Iraq, though still in the early stages of this journey, has begun to make meaningful strides—particularly through initiatives focused on digital defense and institutional modernization. Early AI Efforts Throughout the early 2000s, Iraq's technological landscape remained underdeveloped. Years of conflict, political instability, and reconstruction diverted attention away from scientific progress. Universities and research institutions, affected by funding shortages and brain drain, were largely isolated from global technological advances—resulting in a delayed start in fields such as artificial intelligence. However, a shift began to take shape in the late 2010s. With the rising frequency and sophistication of cyber threats, Iraqi authorities began exploring AI as a tool for digital defense. These early steps laid the groundwork for Iraq's structured engagement with emerging technologies. Institutional Push into AI A significant milestone came in late 2022 when Iraq's Ministry of Interior launched a Cybersecurity Center that later evolved into a full-fledged Cybersecurity Directorate under direct ministerial supervision. In an exclusive interview with Shafaq News, Brigadier General Dr. Hassan Hadi Lazeez, Director of the Directorate, described the move as 'a strategic response to the shifting digital threat landscape.' 'Establishing this directorate is not just a technical measure; it's a shift in the philosophy of national security,' Lazeez stated. The Directorate now manages specialized units focused on dark web surveillance, digital forensics, AI-driven threat detection, and vulnerability assessment. Since its inception, the Directorate has identified 166 vulnerabilities across government platforms and tracked over 336 cybercriminal incidents. It has also launched Iraq's first nationwide Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity competition and delivered over 200 training courses to more than 9,000 security and civilian personnel. Despite these efforts, challenges remain. As Lazeez warned, 'Technology evolves faster than policy—if we don't keep up, we lose before we begin.' Iraq's Global Standing in AI On the global stage, AI readiness is measured by several factors: national strategies, R&D investment, skilled talent, sector-wide integration, and ethical governance. Countries like the United States and China lead due to vast resources and ecosystem depth. Estonia has emerged as a leader in digital governance, while regionally, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have advanced national AI agendas. Iran and Turkiye continue to develop AI primarily in defense and industrial sectors. Structural Challenges to AI Development According to Dr. Mohamad Awada, an EdTech specialist, Iraq faces a combination of structural, legal, and financial barriers that hinder AI development. 'Digital infrastructure is outdated and fragmented. Many public institutions still rely on legacy or unlicensed software, which limits the integration of AI technologies,' Dr. Awada told Shafaq News. He also emphasized the absence of a legal and ethical framework to govern AI deployment. 'The human capital gap remains a serious concern. Brain drain, combined with limited AI-focused curricula and constrained research funding, hampers talent development. Financial limitations also restrict access to essential tools like high-performance computing.' A National Strategy in Progress In August 2024, Iraq officially announced the development of its first National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (INSAIN). Led by the Iraqi AI Group within the Prime Minister's Office and coordinated with multiple ministries, the initiative adopts an agile, user-centered approach that includes government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders. The strategy—still under development—envisions a knowledge-driven economy in which Iraqi citizens both contribute to and benefit from technology. According to the official website, INSAIN emphasizes the integration of AI into healthcare, education, environmental protection, agriculture, and tourism. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promotes responsible innovation through strong data governance and ethical oversight. Key pillars of the strategy include: -AI-powered diagnostics and energy efficiency in healthcare -Precision farming for improved food security -Smart tourism solutions -Public trust-building through transparency and education According to INSAIN, AI curricula are being developed for technical institutes and universities, with proposals to introduce AI concepts at the primary and secondary school levels. This multi-tiered approach seeks to create a sustainable AI talent pipeline and a vibrant innovation ecosystem. However, despite the formation of committees and initial meetings, the strategy remains incomplete and has yet to be fully enacted. The Way Forward To advance Iraq's AI agenda, Dr. Awada recommends a holistic and urgent policy shift: 'The government must launch a comprehensive national strategy that includes clear ethical, legal, and developmental frameworks. This vision should extend AI integration beyond the security sector into critical areas such as healthcare, education, and the economy.' He further emphasized the importance of building long-term resilience, 'Equally important is fostering strong public-private partnerships and investing in AI education to curb brain drain. Building public trust through transparency, cybersecurity awareness, and citizen engagement is essential for sustainable and responsible adoption.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nokod Security to Host Capture the Flag Competition and Demonstrate Microsoft Power BI Vulnerability at OWASP Global AppSec EU 2025
Live hacking challenge and groundbreaking security session to highlight hidden risks in no-code apps and automations NEW YORK & TEL AVIV, Israel, May 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nokod Security, the security company for no-code application development, today announced it will host a no-code Capture the Flag (CTF) hacking competition in collaboration with OWASP at Global AppSec EU 2025 in Barcelona. In addition, Nokod Senior Security Researcher Uriya Elkayam will present a session that exposes data leakage vulnerabilities affecting Power BI reports. WHO: Nokod Security helps enterprises secure their no-code application development environments. WHAT: No-Code Capture the Flag (CTF) CompetitionSecurity researchers will compete in a live event to uncover vulnerabilities in no-code apps that expose sensitive data. All players who successfully complete the challenge will be entered to win prizes, including a DJI NEO Mini Drone and 9 JBL GO 4 speakers. Conference Session: To BI or Not to BI? Data Leakage Tragedies with Power BI ReportsIn this session, Uriya Elkayam will demonstrate how a vulnerability in Microsoft Fabric (Power BI) can allow unauthorized data access via API manipulation, especially in publicly shared reports. He will present PBAnalyzer, an open-source tool developed by Nokod Security, which helps organizations identify data oversharing in widely shared Power BI reports. He will also unveil a new attack technique called DAX Injection, which exploits Power BI queries through Power Automate flows. This attack could potentially lead to external data leakage. The session will conclude with actionable steps for securing Power BI environments. WHEN & WHERE: No-Code CTF Competition Live Event: Friday, May 30 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Room: 118 Location: OWASP 2025 Global AppSec, Fira Barcelona Conference Center Conference Session To BI or Not to BI? Data Leakage Tragedies with Power BI Reports Thursday, May 29, 2025, 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm CET Room 113, Fira Barcelona Conference Center HOW: To schedule a conversation with Nokod Security about no-code and BI platform security contact Marc Gendron at marc@ or +1 617.877.7480. About Nokod SecurityNokod Security is the security company for no-code application development. The Nokod Security Platform protects enterprises from risks introduced by no-code applications across Microsoft Power Platform, UiPath, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and more. Founded by cybersecurity veterans from Imperva and SecuredTouch (now Ping Identity), Nokod is backed by Acrew Capital, Meron Capital, and Flint Capital. Learn more at or follow us on X and LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Marc GendronMarc Gendron PR for Nokod Securitymarc@ +1 617-877-7480 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nokod Security to Host Capture the Flag Competition and Demonstrate Microsoft Power BI Vulnerability at OWASP Global AppSec EU 2025
Live hacking challenge and groundbreaking security session to highlight hidden risks in no-code apps and automations NEW YORK & TEL AVIV, Israel, May 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nokod Security, the security company for no-code application development, today announced it will host a no-code Capture the Flag (CTF) hacking competition in collaboration with OWASP at Global AppSec EU 2025 in Barcelona. In addition, Nokod Senior Security Researcher Uriya Elkayam will present a session that exposes data leakage vulnerabilities affecting Power BI reports. WHO: Nokod Security helps enterprises secure their no-code application development environments. WHAT: No-Code Capture the Flag (CTF) CompetitionSecurity researchers will compete in a live event to uncover vulnerabilities in no-code apps that expose sensitive data. All players who successfully complete the challenge will be entered to win prizes, including a DJI NEO Mini Drone and 9 JBL GO 4 speakers. Conference Session: To BI or Not to BI? Data Leakage Tragedies with Power BI ReportsIn this session, Uriya Elkayam will demonstrate how a vulnerability in Microsoft Fabric (Power BI) can allow unauthorized data access via API manipulation, especially in publicly shared reports. He will present PBAnalyzer, an open-source tool developed by Nokod Security, which helps organizations identify data oversharing in widely shared Power BI reports. He will also unveil a new attack technique called DAX Injection, which exploits Power BI queries through Power Automate flows. This attack could potentially lead to external data leakage. The session will conclude with actionable steps for securing Power BI environments. WHEN & WHERE: No-Code CTF Competition Live Event: Friday, May 30 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Room: 118 Location: OWASP 2025 Global AppSec, Fira Barcelona Conference Center Conference Session To BI or Not to BI? Data Leakage Tragedies with Power BI Reports Thursday, May 29, 2025, 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm CET Room 113, Fira Barcelona Conference Center HOW: To schedule a conversation with Nokod Security about no-code and BI platform security contact Marc Gendron at marc@ or +1 617.877.7480. About Nokod SecurityNokod Security is the security company for no-code application development. The Nokod Security Platform protects enterprises from risks introduced by no-code applications across Microsoft Power Platform, UiPath, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and more. Founded by cybersecurity veterans from Imperva and SecuredTouch (now Ping Identity), Nokod is backed by Acrew Capital, Meron Capital, and Flint Capital. Learn more at or follow us on X and LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Marc GendronMarc Gendron PR for Nokod Securitymarc@ +1 617-877-7480 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Nokod Security to Host Capture the Flag Competition and Demonstrate Microsoft Power BI Vulnerability at OWASP Global AppSec EU 2025
NEW YORK & TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nokod Security, the security company for no-code application development, today announced it will host a no-code Capture the Flag (CTF) hacking competition in collaboration with OWASP at Global AppSec EU 2025 in Barcelona. In addition, Nokod Senior Security Researcher Uriya Elkayam will present a session that exposes data leakage vulnerabilities affecting Power BI reports. Attendees can compete in a live event to uncover vulnerabilities in no-code apps that expose sensitive data. All players who successfully complete the challenge will be entered to win prizes, including a DJI NEO Mini Drone and 9 JBL GO 4 speakers. Share WHO: Nokod Security helps enterprises secure their no-code application development environments. WHAT: No-Code Capture the Flag (CTF) Competition Security researchers will compete in a live event to uncover vulnerabilities in no-code apps that expose sensitive data. All players who successfully complete the challenge will be entered to win prizes, including a DJI NEO Mini Drone and 9 JBL GO 4 speakers. Conference Session: To BI or Not to BI? Data Leakage Tragedies with Power BI Reports In this session, Uriya Elkayam will demonstrate how a vulnerability in Microsoft Fabric (Power BI) can allow unauthorized data access via API manipulation, especially in publicly shared reports. He will present PBAnalyzer, an open-source tool developed by Nokod Security, which helps organizations identify data oversharing in widely shared Power BI reports. He will also unveil a new attack technique called DAX Injection, which exploits Power BI queries through Power Automate flows. This attack could potentially lead to external data leakage. The session will conclude with actionable steps for securing Power BI environments. WHEN & WHERE: No-Code CTF Competition Live Event: Friday, May 30 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Room: 118 Location: OWASP 2025 Global AppSec, Fira Barcelona Conference Center Conference Session To BI or Not to BI? Data Leakage Tragedies with Power BI Reports Thursday, May 29, 2025, 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm CET Room 113, Fira Barcelona Conference Center HOW: To schedule a conversation with Nokod Security about no-code and BI platform security contact Marc Gendron at marc@ or +1 617.877.7480. About Nokod Security Nokod Security is the security company for no-code application development. The Nokod Security Platform protects enterprises from risks introduced by no-code applications across Microsoft Power Platform, UiPath, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and more. Founded by cybersecurity veterans from Imperva and SecuredTouch (now Ping Identity), Nokod is backed by Acrew Capital, Meron Capital, and Flint Capital. Learn more at or follow us on X and LinkedIn.
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
T'puram levels up leisure time with new-gen games
Recreational gaming, the go-to weekend escapade in metro hubs, is now gaining popularity in the capital city as well. From soapy football fields and VR combat zones to high-speed laser tag and paintball arenas, these high-energy activities are reshaping how leisure time is spent. Also, these activities bring together fun, fitness, stress relief, and social bonding in one refreshing package. A growing number of people — friends, colleagues, corporate teams — are visiting these venues in groups to join in the action. The challenging game of paintball calls many city folks to Paintball County near Infosys. A single flag sits at the centre and two teams, suited up in jackets, vie for the win. The mission is clear — to capture the flag and bring it back. But there's one catch. Do it without getting splattered by a storm of paint. Every dash, every dive, every shout pulses with tension. This adrenaline-charged showdown is a regular scene here. Along with the paintball action, the venue offers soapy football, foam parties, rain dance, and cricket nets with a bowling machine. Three friends — Hemanth Retnakumar, Sachin Kumar, and Shamji N S — with a passion for games, saw a gap in the market for paintball in Thiruvananthapuram. Within 2-3 months of identifying the need, they launched the venture, the only dedicated paintball space in the city. 'We offer multiple gaming options, but the main event is 'Capture the Flag', which gives you the feel of a battlefield. It is all about strategy, stealth, and quick reflexes. Paintball has an age limit. We only allow players aged 12 and above,' says Hemanth. It was not that easy at first to establish the arena in the city, they say. 'Paintball was not something popular here at the time. We opened in March last year, and for the first couple of months, business was slow. But now, things are improving. In addition to techies, we now see schoolchildren, families, and medical college students coming in on weekends and holidays,' Hemanth shares. Apart from paintball and foam parties, there are archery and table football as complementary activities. For paintball, the cost is Rs 350 per person, with groups of 4-12 people required to play. Soapy Football starts at Rs 900. The Sector 7 Games is a different story. The focus here is on laser tag.
