How to Hack!

Curious about the world of cybersecurity, hacking and coding? Join us at this beginner-friendly workshop presented by TECHNATION and Hexploit Alliance! In preparation for the beginner track at the upcoming @Hack 2026 student cybersecurity CTF Hackathon, the organizers will teach you what a CTF is, what kinds of challenges you can expect, and strategies to succeed in CTF competitions like @Hack.

Participants will be instructed on how to solve a sample challenge and will have the opportunity to practice and receive feedback on their work. You'll come away with improved problem-solving skills and an understanding of how challenges work at CTF events.

How can you participate? Join us in person by filling out the Eventbrite or online by registering for the Zoom Meeting or watching live on YouTube.

Have questions? Send them to info.4@concordia.ca

William Charron-Boyle (Challenge Designer Lead)

William is an undergraduate Software Engineering student with a joint minor in Linguistics. He is passionate about reverse engineering and enjoys creating video games that bring cybersecurity concepts to life. His most popular signature @hack challenge applies reverse engineering to a single-player video game, offering participants a fun hands-on experience.

Alin Caia (Challenge Designer Lead)

Alin is an undergraduate Computer Science student with a deep passion for everything cyber. As a regular attendee of competitions such as Northsec, he is passionate about penetration testing, enjoys experimenting with tools like the Flipper Zero to better understand real-world attach surfaces, and loves to share his knowledge.

Jeslyn Sorotsky (Lead Logistics)

Jeslyn is an undergraduate Software Engineering CO-OP student with a passion for organizing cybersecurity and STEM-related events, including Hardware Hacking 101, She STEMs for a Cause, and of course @Hack, to encourage women and other underrepresented communities in cybersecurity. With experience at Quebec's Ministry of Cybersecurity, she is an enthusiastic lifelong learner who is eager to explore and share new ideas wherever she goes.

Anis Lounis (Hexploit Alliance)

Anis is a Ph.D. student mainly researching firmware vulnerabilities at Concordia as well as one of the original founders of Hexploit Alliance. Some of his research touches on Software Supply Chain Attacks and flaws in IoT Firmware. 

Hugo Kermabon (Hexploit Alliance)

Hugo is a Ph.D student in Information and Systems Engineering at Concordia as well as one of the original founders of Hexploit Alliance. He is passionate about ML and Neural Networks. His research includes containers security, 5G security, cloud-computing, NFV and OS security. 

Organized by TECHNATION and Hexploit Alliance.

TECHNATION is Canada’s leading technology association, uniting industry, government, and communities to enable economic prosperity across the nation. Our members encompass Canadian and global SMEs, firms and innovators who contribute to enhancing Canada’s economic growth and global competitiveness through technology. At TECHNATION, we champion technology prosperity through advocacy, thought leadership, talent development, networking and business development opportunities.

Hexploit Alliance is a student-led cybersecurity group formed in 2023 at Concordia University with the goal of demystifying cybersecurity and fostering interest and cybersecurity opportunities for the community at large. Last year, Hexploit Alliance was honoured with Concordia's Volunteer Recognition Award. Our members specialize in a wide range of cybersecurity fields, including binary code analysis, steganography, forensics, reverse engineering, intrusion detection, threat hunting, and so much more! As a diverse group, we enjoy spreading the love of cybersecurity with Concordia's community at large and sharing our skills to encourage more individuals to dive into the field with our help--- since we know that it can be scary and seem non-welcoming for beginners. To foster inclusivity in cybersecurity, we offer free events to all, regardless of financial status, citizenship, race, or gender.