Cyber-Defense club wins state competition

The Cyber-Defense club of Southeast Missouri State University took first place at the Missouri Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition on Saturday.

The team defended a fictional company's infrastructure from a group of hackers who tried to breech its security and take the systems offline. The team now heads to the 2013 Midwest Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, CCDC on Friday and Saturday at Moraine Valley Community College in Chicago, Ill.

The team includes Jeremy Wiedner of Imperial, Mo., Travis Holland of Dexter, Mo., Jake Schnurbusch of Jackson, Battle Tomasetti of Ballwin, Mo., R.D. Niroshan Lakmal Rajapakse of Sri Lanka, Melanie Thiemann of Wentzville, Mo., Charity Meyer of Harrisonville, Mo., and Blynn Atchley of Malden, Mo.

The faculty adviser is Dr. Vijay Anand, who teaches cybersecurity classes at the university.

Southeast began the cybersecurity program in 2011 to educate students in the existing and emerging challenges in the field.

For more information on the Cyber-Defense club and program, visit semocdc.com. and semo.edu.

Pertinent address: One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Chicago, Ill.