Kaspersky and MIT Bengaluru have launched Hack Sky, a national 48-hour hackathon from July 29–30, 2025, to train young cybersecurity talent against real-world digital threats. The event includes AI, infrastructure, and social engineering challenges, with prizes and expert mentoring for winners.

A new effort is bringing India’s most talented young people to the forefront of digital defence as cyberattacks increase in complexity and impact. Global cybersecurity pioneer Kaspersky and the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Bengaluru, are collaborating to develop Hack Sky, a 48-hour hackathon that will be held nationwide on the MIT Bengaluru campus from July 29 to 30, 2025.

Students, young professionals, and cyber enthusiasts between the ages of 16 and 25 are invited to participate in this intense, real-world cybersecurity competition to put their talents to the test, create workable defences, and tackle new digital threats, such as deep fake misinformation, industrial infrastructure attacks, and scams powered by artificial intelligence.

“Developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is crucial as cyber threats become more sophisticated and widespread,” stated Evgeniya Russkikh, Head of Cybersecurity Education at Kaspersky. “Hack Sky is a platform that allows researchers, coders, and aspiring white-hat hackers to address real-world threats and create meaningful solutions.”

A Hackathon with Real-World Impact

Hack Sky is a challenge based on the actual cybersecurity battlefield; it’s not only about code. Three challenging challenge tracks are part of the hackathon, which was created by Kaspersky’s worldwide team:

Under Siege: Participants will identify weaknesses and create defence plans for Industrial Control Systems (ICS), which are the foundation of vital infrastructure.

AI vs. AI: This track challenges participants to develop tools to identify and neutralise a new type of digital deceit, including deep fakes, false information, and scams created by artificial intelligence.

Trapping the Honey Trapper: This task, which tests social engineering defence, focuses on spotting and stopping phoney identities and online traps intended to trick people and obtain private information.

The winning team or individual will receive ₹1 lakh in cash, cybersecurity training from Kaspersky, and one-on-one mentoring from top international experts as part of the grand prize. MIT Bengaluru, MAHE, supports the prize, demonstrating the school’s dedication to providing tech education that is relevant to the industry.

A Growing Cybersecurity Ecosystem

In October 2024, Kaspersky and MIT Bengaluru signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which Hack Sky abides by. The collaboration seeks to create a long-term cybersecurity innovation pipeline by exchanging knowledge, developing curricula, and providing skills training.

“Hack Sky is a Launchpad, not just a competition,” stated Dr. Iven Jose, Director of MIT Bengaluru. “We’re connecting academia and industry with this event, assisting students in solving high-impact problems and providing them with hands-on experience in the future of cybersecurity.”

Beyond the Hackathon: Gamified Learning

On July 31, one day after the hackathon ends, Kaspersky will organise its well-liked Kaspersky Interactive Protection Simulation (KIPS) to wrap up the event. In a high-stress setting, this gamified cybersecurity training experience helps participants develop their strategic thinking and incident response skills by simulating actual corporate intrusions.