On April 25, Tirana became the center of an extraordinary event in the field of cyber security, welcoming the "Black Hat 2.0" conference. This unique event brought together some of the best cyber security experts and professionals from Albania and the region to discuss the biggest challenges facing the digital world today. The conference was an excellent platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences about protection from cyber threats, while at the same time it served to make participants aware of the importance of strengthening security in virtual spaces.
The Black Hat 2.0 conference brought together some of the most renowned cyber security experts who shared their experiences and knowledge on cyber attacks and defense solutions. One of the main referents was Mr. Mentor Hoxhaj, President of CSP (Cyber Security and Privacy) in Pristina. With his rich experience in data protection and information security, Mr. Hoxhaj addressed the topic "GDPR - Hacking Penalties", emphasizing the importance of respecting privacy regulations and the consequences of their violations. His presentation included live demonstrations and practical examples on GDPR-compliant data security.
Ph.D. Bledar Kazia, expert in the protection of data and computer networks, presented on the topic "Frequency Attack in Distributed Databases with SHARD". Kazia demonstrated how attacks on distributed databases can compromise data, and provided techniques for protecting against and minimizing these threats.
Another experienced referrer was kastriot fetahaj, with over 15 years of experience in cyber security. It demonstrated a single-user DoS attack, providing hands-on training on identifying and defending against this type of attack. Fetahaj shared with the audience his experiences as one of the most popular security analysts in Albania.
Igli Tafaand Samela Bajraktari presented on the stages of a Black Hat attack, demonstrating the steps that hackers follow during cyber attacks and the defensive strategies that must be followed to prevent these attacks. Their rich experience in network administration and systems penetration provided deep insight into security and systems management.
Meridian Miftari, a cybersecurity researcher, presented on attacks involving elevated system privileges, titled “From Responder to NT Authority\SYSTEM”. Miftari showed how attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems to gain full access to victims' systems.
Erjon Hasanaj, a researcher in London, presented on BlackHat Script, a topic involving the use of scripts to compromise victims' systems and the application of advanced technologies such as facial recognition to victim images. Hasanaj shared his experiences in the field of reverse engineering and malware analysis.
In the field of bug bounty-based security, Tanzer Abazi spoke on the importance of Bug Bounty and Responsible Disclosure , showing how ethics and transparency can help discover and fix vulnerabilities in digital systems. This topic had a great impact on the attendees as it addressed a new approach to addressing cyber vulnerabilities.
Another speaker was Endrit Vula, who presented on Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks and how they can be used to capture sensitive data in transit. His demonstration showed how these attacks work and what safeguards can be taken to prevent them.
Participating universities and partners included some of the most well-known educational institutions in Albania, such as the Canadian Institute of Technology, the University of Tirana and the "Aleksandër Xhuvani" University in Elbasan, making the conference a comprehensive platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences between professionals in young people and experts.
"Black Hat 2.0" was noted not only for its rich content, but also for the profound impact it had on all participants. This event helped raise awareness of the importance of cyber security in Albania and the region, bringing an open forum for professionals to share best practices and innovative solutions. Participants, ranging from technology experts to public and private sector representatives and students from various universities, left the conference with a deeper understanding of the real threats and the safeguards that must be taken to keep our systems secure.
The success of the conference is a proof of the commitment to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructures and to increase the capacities of institutions and companies in the field of cyber security. This event was an important step towards building a stronger and more sustainable digital security culture in Albania and beyond.