Woburn, MA – January 26, 2017 – Kaspersky Lab announced today it will host a cybersecurity seminar, titled “Think Security,” which offers MIT students an opportunity to learn about the challenges of protecting today’s critical infrastructure against the sophisticated cyberattacks emerging around the world. The event, organized by Kaspersky Academy and the MIT Interdisciplinary Consortium for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity [(IC)³], is open to select students during MIT’s Independent Activities Period (IAP) from January 30 to February 3.

During the weeklong seminar, students will analyze industrial control systems (ICS), which are typically used in the electric, water, oil and gas industries, while taking a closer look at Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) that continue to plague organizations of all sizes and sectors. At the event, students will participate in both a Capture the Flag challenge and the Kaspersky Interactive Protection Simulation (KIPS Live) training, where participants will select suitable cybersecurity technologies for an industrial power plant and resolve specific implementation challenges.

“Today’s critical infrastructure often runs on outdated technologies that date back nearly 30 years, meaning some of the largest cities’ utilities and sensitive systems are controlled by unsupported, vulnerable software,” said Clint Bodungen, senior security researcher, Kaspersky Lab. “At the same time, cybercriminals’ attacks are growing in sophistication, creating a dangerous situation that students can help resolve. While lectures are beneficial, students gain the most understanding through hands-on activities, which is why we’re collaborating with MIT to bring ICS cybersecurity to the forefront at this year’s IAP.”

The focus of “Think Security” follows the recent launch of Kaspersky Lab ICS-CERT, a global computer emergency response team dedicated to securing industrial systems. Through the ICS-CERT project, Kaspersky Lab shares its cybersecurity expertise with industry stakeholders, which includes information on the latest threats, security incidents, mitigation strategies, incident response and compliance.

MIT’s IAP program is a special four week term in January that has been in existence for more than 40 years. The annual event allows the MIT community, including faculty, students, staff and alumni, to apply critical thinking and hands-on learning skills to real-world problems, furthering their technical skillset.

“IAP is an invaluable program for both students and faculty to learn from leading experts in a wide range of industries, and this year with Kaspersky Lab, we’re spotlighting an important issue that affects regions around the world,” said Stuart Madnick, director of (IC)3 and professor of information technology at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT school of engineering. “Kaspersky Lab’s ‘Think Security’ seminar will test our students to think outside of the box and apply their knowledge to better protect society, a lesson extending far beyond the classroom.”

To learn more about the “Think Security” seminar during MIT’s IAP 2017, please visit www.web.mit.edu/iap/. Further information on Kaspersky Lab ICS-CERT project can be found at https://ics-cert.kaspersky.com/.