Abstract
CTF (Capture the Flag) competitions are increasingly being used in information technology and software engineering education to teach students about secure coding best practices. This paper presents an approach to improve engagement of software engineering students during software security laboratory assessments by using CTF-style challenges that are fun to solve and reflect modern security threats. The approach involves gamifying laboratory exercises by providing CTF-like challenges that are not only enjoyable but also reflect real-world security vulnerabilities. Additionally, students are given a single virtual machine bundled with everything needed for the entire semester, eliminating unnecessary logistic problems. Feedback from students confirms the effectiveness of this approach in reaching course objectives. Students were keen to learn more about the topic and showed greater interest in the laboratories. This approach provides a more dynamic and interactive learning experience that fosters critical thinking skills and encourages students to pursue careers in software security.
Published Version
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