[Hong Kong, July 14, 2016] Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global leader in security software and solutions, today announced it will host its second annual Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity competition for engineers. Following the company’s successful, first-ever CTF for the security community in the Asia Pacific region, the 2016 event will be hosted for engineers worldwide.

Trend Micro CTF 2016 will test players’ technical knowledge in various categories, such as targeted attacks, Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), which are all becoming increasingly important in the cybersecurity space1. The competition comprises an online qualifying event and finals held in Tokyo, Japan.

“Trend Micro aims to create a world safe for exchanging digital information, and expert events, such as this, are one way we work toward this goal,” said Eva Chen, CEO for Trend Micro. “Challenging engineers from across the globe to stretch their cybersecurity knowledge in these specific, relevant areas will help bolster the security community as a whole.”

The online qualifier will be played in a “Jeopardy” format in which players will compete by solving challenges in various categories. The top ten teams from the online qualifier will advance to compete in the final, which will be played in an “attack and defense” format. The final winning team will be awarded JPY1,000,000 (approximately US$9,800), plus Zero Day Initiative Rewards Program 2 points.

Trend Micro CTF 2016 Online Qualifier
Dates: July 30-31, 2016 (Game starts at 13:00 (JST, 4:00 UTC), July 30, 2016)
Requirements: Participants must be at least 20 years old
Format: Jeopardy
Venue: Online
Team registration: From July 15, 2016 (JST)

Trend Micro CTF 2016 Final
Dates: November 19-20, 2016 (JST)
Requirements: The top ten teams from the online event will qualify. Each team may have a maximum of four players.
Format: Attack and Defense (additional details to be announced following online qualifier)
Venue: Shinjuku NS Building, Tokyo, Japan

Prizes:
First Place Team: US$9,800 per team, a one-time bonus of US$2,000, automatic qualification for HITCON CTF 2016 Final in Taiwan
Second Place Team: US$3,000 per team
Third Place Team: US$2,000 per team

To register for the online qualifier, please visit: http://www.go-tm.jp/ctf2016_en

For more information about the event, please visit: http://www.go-tm.jp/ctf2016_en