Learning computer security with mimes and Raspberry Pi

By Kevin Manne

BUFFALO, N.Y. — During the 2015 University at Buffalo GenCyber Camp, teenagers with a penchant for technology learned to create websites, build a computer network and defend it from a simulated attack.

GenCyber was a free, weeklong cybersecurity summer camp for children aged 13-17, held July 6-10 at the University at Buffalo. The camp introduced bright young students to cybersecurity as a future career option.

“As businesses continue to struggle with how to handle information security threats, there is an urgent need for professionals with the technical and managerial skills to protect national and business interests,” says David Murray, associate professor of management science and systems in the UB School of Management.

Each day, a capacity crowd of 36 students from 24 area schools participated in hands-on activities to learn about a wide range of cybersecurity topics.

The campers heard presentations from industry professionals, built a computer network using credit-card-sized Raspberry Pi computers and defended the network from a simulated cyberattack.

They even learned about firewalls, denial-of-service attacks, phishing and other computer security concepts from mimes.

Students who successfully completed the camp received a certificate of achievement at an awards presentation Friday afternoon.

GenCyber was presented by the UB School of Management, the UB Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the UB Center of Excellence in Information Systems Assurance Research and Education (CEISARE), with sponsorship from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Security Agency (NSA) and Time Warner Cable.

UB’s camp was one of 43 GenCyber camps being held across the country funded by the NSA and NSF this year. The organizations aim to have 200 camps nationwide by 2020.

Students who successfully completed UB’s 2015 GenCyber camp are:

Junqi Wu of Amherst Middle School; Eric Bridges and Jared Flitt of Canisius High School; Andrew Lin of Casey Middle School; Morgan Stockmeyer of City Honors; Lia Hanes-Stetter and Tanner Newell of East Aurora High School; Hope Newell of East Aurora Middle School; Brianna Grine, Christopher Mosley and Lauryn Whiteside of Frederick Law Olmsted School; Paul Sprenkle of Hillgrove High School; Joshua Rosseland of Hoover Middle School; Louis Taravella of Kenmore Middle School; Alexander Powers of Lancaster High School; Sebastian Richel of Lancaster Middle School; Stone Zheng of Mendon High School; Evan Johnson, Marshall Pokras and Calvin Lee of Mill Middle School.

Also, Chase Crafts of Niagara Academy; Molly Crandall and Dylan Loliger of Niagara Wheatfield High School; Henry Chugh of North High School; Rachel Hamilton of Rush Henrietta Senior High School; Jaydah Robertson of Sweet Home High School; Katarina Sako of Tapestry Charter School; Daniel McMurray of Westfield Academy and Central School; Sharan Prasad, Elizabeth Gu, Morris Lee and Shreyas Prasad of Williamsville East High School; Andrew Salem, Joshua Bloom and Robert Mentkowski of Williamsville North High School; and Noah Trillizio and Sean Manly of Williamsville South High School.