CO CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

On 26 February 2026, the Department of Information Science and Engineering organised CryptoXcape – “Decode to Escape” as part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations at the ISE Department, Chhatrapathi Shivaji Block. The event was designed as a two-phase technical challenge to test participants’ logical reasoning, analytical thinking, teamwork, and cybersecurity skills.

Inspired by the theme “Now You See Me,” the event combined a scavenger hunt with a web-based Capture-The-Flag (CTF) challenge, where teams decoded clues to unlock a 4-digit security code and captured hidden flags online. Phase 1 involved collecting four numerical digits through a room-based scavenger hunt, emphasising observation, reasoning, and coordination.

Phase 2, known as the Hill Capture round, required teams to apply web security concepts to identify vulnerabilities and submit flags in the required format. A total of 160 participants formed teams of four and competed for a prize pool of ₹10,000.

Scoring was based on the number of flags captured, along with speed and accuracy, creating an intense and engaging competitive environment. The event enhanced students’ problem-solving abilities, strategic thinking, teamwork, and practical understanding of cybersecurity principles. Winners were awarded prizes for their performance in both the scavenger hunt and CTF rounds.

Overall, CryptoXcape provided a hands-on platform for technical growth and experiential learning in cybersecurity for students.

The expert emphasized imagination and innovation as key drivers of next-generation mobile applications. He guided students through the stages of Ideation, Design, and Realization for building innovative solutions. An overview of blockchain technology and its integration with mobile applications was presented. The role of digital currencies in enabling secure and decentralized transactions was explained. Design thinking principles such as Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test were applied to mobile app development. Real-world use cases included mobile wallets, decentralized applications, and fintech solutions. The session was highly interactive, with students sharing perspectives and ideas.

 Industry practices and emerging trends in blockchain and digital currencies were discussed. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, appreciating the practical examples and engaging delivery. Many students were inspired to explore blockchain-based mobile applications in projects and research. The talk concluded with encouragement for students to pursue entrepreneurial initiatives in this domain.