Every team starts somewhere, and for VERDESEC, that journey began with a simple idea: find people who were genuinely interested in cybersecurity and give them a chance to prove themselves.

In our early days, we launched our very first recruitment challenge through WhatsApp group chats. At the time, the goal was straightforward. We wanted to identify students and aspiring players who had the curiosity, mindset, and determination to take part in local Capture-The-Flag (CTF) competitions.

The response was encouraging. A number of participants stepped forward and took on the challenge, each bringing a different mix of problem-solving ability, technical knowledge, and creativity. Some approached the tasks methodically, while others showed strong intuition and persistence when faced with unfamiliar problems. What stood out most was not just technical skill, but the willingness to keep trying and learn along the way.

That first challenge helped us discover several active CTF players who would go on to form the foundation of TAR UMT (TAR UC at the time)’s leading CTF team, a team that would later achieve multiple championship wins. More importantly, it showed us that there was real local talent waiting for the right opportunity and environment to grow.

Looking back, this recruitment challenge marked an important starting point for VERDESEC. It was not just about selecting participants for a single event.

It was the beginning of a community built around learning, collaboration, and shared passion for cybersecurity. That same belief in developing talent continues to shape what we do today.

By Trailbl4z3r

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