The Austrian hacking team is among the world’s top ten

The team consists of around 30 members, most of whom are bachelor’s and master’s students from TU Wien, TU Graz, the University of Vienna, JKU Linz, and St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences. They are joined by several PhD students and experienced IT security professionals with the team captain being Marco Squarcina, Senior Scientist in the Research Unit Security and Privacy at TU Wien. KuK Hofhackerei meets regularly at TU Wien, SBA Research, and TU Graz to collaborate on security challenges and prepare for international competitions.

The DEF CON CTF competition consists of two stages: remote Qualifying Rounds, followed by the onsite Finals. Earlier this year, KuK Hofhackerei achieved an impressive 6th place in the annual DEF CON CTF Qualifiers, competing against more than a thousand elite teams worldwide. This outstanding performance earned them a place at the onsite Finals during DEF CON — the largest and most respected hacker conference in the world.

In the Finals, the best teams from around the world face off in high-pressure, real-time challenges — simultaneously attacking and defending computer systems. The tasks span a broad range of cybersecurity disciplines, pushing participants to the limits of their skills and showcasing cutting-edge security expertise. Unlike most CTF competitions, which are held entirely online, the DEF CON Finals take place onsite in Las Vegas. Preparations for the event are therefore intensive, requiring the development of custom tools, strategies, and workflows long before the competition begins.

At the 2025 DEF CON CTF Finals, KuK Hofhackerei delivered an outstanding performance, securing 9th place among the world’s top 12 teams. Facing the very best in the field, the team solved a wide range of complex challenges, demonstrating exceptional technical skill, teamwork, and resilience under intense time pressure. This achievement further cements Austria’s position on the global cybersecurity stage and highlights the exceptional talent emerging from the nation’s universities and research institutions.

KuK Hofhackerei is backed by a strong network of academic and industry partners that provide resources, expertise, and financial support, enabling the team to perform at the highest level. Platinum Sponsors Dynatrace, Erste Bank und Sparkasse played a key role in making participation possible. Academia has also shown remarkable commitment, with Technische Universität Wien, Technische Universität Graz, and SBA Research as Gold Sponsors, and FH St. Pölten – University of Applied Sciences and Johannes Kepler Universität Linz as Silver Sponsors. Thanks also go to Silver Sponsors Bosch and Siemens for their valuable contributions, and to CyberSecurityAustria (CSA) for their ongoing support.