VicOne, a leading provider of automotive cybersecurity solutions, together with Block Harbor, a specialist in automotive cybersecurity engineering, has announced the results of the Global Vehicle Cybersecurity Competition (VCC). The event attracted nearly 500 participants worldwide — from newcomers to experienced professionals — all competing in a Capture the Flag (CTF) format designed to strengthen skills and promote safer connected and software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

Top performers were honored across four categories:

  • Overall Competition: Willem Melching
  • Blue Team: Zsolt Dénes
  • Red Team: Chanhyeok Jung
  • Individual Challenges: DK Kong, et, Kazuki Furukawa, kakur41, Robert Beltri, and Song Gyeongsik

Cyber Technology Insights : HUB Cyber Security Ltd. Appoints Romke E. de Haan III as Head of its Cybersecurity Strategy and Innovation Division

“The automotive industry must manage cybersecurity on two fronts: protecting legacy vehicles while safeguarding next-generation SDVs,” said Max Cheng, CEO of VicOne. “With a global talent shortage in cybersecurity, we feel a responsibility to help develop the next generation of defenders. By partnering with Block Harbor on Global VCC, we created realistic scenarios that simulate potential attacks and defense strategies, enabling participants to build the essential skills needed for the future.”

Realistic Scenarios, Practical Learning

Held online from August 22 to September 1, the Global VCC featured both Blue Team (defense) and Red Team (offense) challenges, replicating real-world attack paths and countermeasures, such as:

  • Penetrating legacy vehicle defenses
  • Blocking malicious firmware overwrites
  • Expanding lateral movement from a single ECU to the entire vehicle
  • Protecting cryptographic keys and digital signatures
  • Identifying anomalous CAN messages
  • Decrypting secure CAN communications
  • Reverse engineering attacker techniques
  • Applying Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment (TARA) methodologies

Through these scenarios, participants gained hands-on experience in countering modern vehicle cybersecurity threats, while earning Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits, networking with peers, and competing for recognition and cash awards.

Cyber Technology Insights : Mike Walsh Appointed as Chief Executive Officer at DKBinnovative

Recognition at the Highest Level

As the overall champion, Willem Melching has secured an exclusive opportunity to attend Pwn2Own Automotive 2026, the world’s premier competition for zero-day vulnerability research on connected cars and SDVs. The event will take place January 21–23, 2026, at Automotive World in Tokyo.

Reflecting on his experience, Melching said:

“This CTF was both challenging and rewarding, blending reverse engineering, cryptography, and exploitation in a highly realistic environment. The simulated PowerPC ECU was impressively accurate, echoing vulnerabilities seen in real-world automotive systems.”

The Global VCC highlights the importance of collaboration and community learning in addressing the evolving cybersecurity needs of the automotive industry.

Cyber Technology Insights : Corero Network Security Partners with Nextwave to Expand DDoS Protection into Thailand

To participate in our interviews, please write to our CyberTech Media Room at sudipto@intentamplify.com