As cyber attacks grow and data thieves go rampant, the world needs fresh minds to push back. Ukraine, fighting battles both on the ground and online, knows this all too well. That’s why Kyiv was the perfect place to connect aspiring security engineers with the best cybersecurity minds.
In October 2024, Objective-See Foundation and MacPaw organized a rare opportunity for Ukrainian students interested in cybersecurity. We got together for Objective for the We, a free in-person training with the world’s top Apple security researchers.
Here’s how Moonlock prepared for the event and turned students into real malware investigators for a day.
OFTW: Where talent meets opportunity
Objective-See Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to macOS security. It creates free, open-source macOS security tools and supports people interested in pursuing careers in cybersecurity.
The Objective for the We (OFTW) conference is one of the key initiatives of the foundation. It aims to inspire and equip individuals to enter the cybersecurity field and contribute to the growth of the industry. Filled with free talks and training sessions from the world’s top Apple security researchers, OFTW offers the community an invaluable opportunity to learn and grow.
In May 2024, the Moonlock team attended the first OFTW in San Francisco. Sitting in the front row as listeners, we saw the potential of this event. That was when the idea was born, the handshakes were made, and plans to bring OFTW to Kyiv in October took shape!
The Ukrainian edition
Preparations for OFTW took just four months, which is a remarkable feat given the scale of the event. Objective-See founder Patrick Wardle and his crew traveled across the globe from the United States, joined by Arin Waichulis, a 9to5Mac journalist who came to report on the conference. Among the leading experts who confirmed their participation were Cossack Labs, IBM Ukraine, and the Faculty of Computer Science at the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.”
In the end, the event drew a whopping 116 guests. For two days, MacPaw Space transformed into a beehive of cybersecurity enthusiasts engaged in discussions, sharing knowledge, networking, and learning from one another.
Day 1: Be a security engineer for a day
The first day of the conference was all about hands-on experience. Students could join workshops with Patrick, the CleanMyPhone team, or security engineers from Moonlock.
Day 2: Connect with the experts
The second day of the conference featured engaging talks, lively panels, networking, and good vibes. Most of the day was streamed on YouTube, so people from all over the world could listen to professional cybersecurity insight.
Cybersecurity experts from top Ukrainian companies joined Patrick Wardle on stage. The lineup included speakers from Cossack Labs, IBM Ukraine, ClearVPN, CleanMyMac, Osavul, State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine, and Moonlock.
Kseniia Yamburh, a malware research engineer at Moonlock Lab, went onstage with her talk “Navigating the Rising Tide of macOS Stealer Malware in 2024.” She shared insights from the original research by Moonlock Lab on macOS stealers, their evolution, delivery methods, and evasion techniques.
The talks and panels are available to everyone on the Objective-See YouTube channel, and they’re worth a watch. You’ll hear how a Taiwanese flag emoji crashed iPhones, find out how stealer malware makes money, and get into the debate about whether security engineers should learn unethical hacking practices.
Mission accomplished
OFTW v2 was a huge success! At Moonlock, we are extremely proud of the outcome and humbled by all the kind feedback we’ve received from the visitors. Students went home with pockets full of knowledge, while our guests left with unforgettable memories of visiting Ukraine and connecting with the future generation of Ukrainian cybersecurity.
Don’t take our word for it. Here are some opinions about OFTW, MacPaw’s cats, and other cool things that impressed our guests during the conference.
