Japan’s Leading White-Hat Hackers Demonstrate Elite Cybersecurity Skills in Las Vegas

GMO Internet Group (TOKYO: 9449), a Tokyo-based global leader in internet infrastructure and security, announced that its white-hat hacker team “GMO Ierae” has captured first place in the prestigious Cloud Village Capture The Flag (CTF) competition at DEF CON 33, one of the world’s largest and most influential cybersecurity conferences. This victory marks the team’s historic third consecutive world championship.

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Team “GMO Ierae” members at the award ceremony

DEF CON 33 brought together top hackers and security experts from around the globe. Three elite teams represented GMO Internet Group across multiple categories:

• GMO Ierae — 1st place in Cloud Village CTF, achieving a historic third consecutive title.
• GMO Flatt Security — Competed in multiple categories, placing 3rd in AppSec Village CTF and 5th in Hardware Hacking Village.
• Blue Water — 2nd place in the highly competitive DEF CON CTF Finals, as part of an international team of top hackers from multiple countries.

GMO Internet Group views CTF competitions not merely as contests, but as essential training grounds for strengthening real-world cybersecurity defenses. The Group continues to invest in world-class talent development and initiatives to create a safer internet for all.

“We are proud to once again achieve outstanding results at DEF CON’s CTF—one of the toughest stages in global cybersecurity.

CTF is more than just a competition; it’s a challenge to face unknown threats and cutting-edge attack techniques, pushing beyond limits alongside teammates. The knowledge gained here prepares us for threats we may encounter in the real world years from now.

If you want to win at the highest level, you must constantly track the latest attack methods and refine your skills. Everything we learn through these challenges is applied directly to helping our customers.

‘An Internet for a Safe Future for All’—we will continue to fight on the global front lines to make that vision a reality.”

— Makoto Makita, CISO, GMO Internet Group

Over the past two years, GMO’s teams have consistently ranked among the world’s best in global CTF competitions. Notable achievements include:

• 1st place at SECCON CTF 13 Finals (2025)
• 1st place at Hack the DRONE Finals (2024)
• 1st place at DEF CON 32 Cloud Village CTF (2024)
• 2nd place at Automotive CTF Global Finals (2024)
• 2nd place at DEF CON 32 CMD+CTRL Cyber Range (2024)
• 3rd place at HITCON CYBER RANGE (2024)
• 1st in Japan and 2nd worldwide at HTB Business CTF (2024)
• 1st in Japan and 2nd worldwide at LINE CTF (2024)

With over 1,100 employees involved in security across its group companies, GMO launched the cross-functional “GMO will protect your Internet Security” initiative in 2025 to accelerate innovation and awareness in cybersecurity.

• Learn more:
  
  https://gmo-cybersecurity.com/
  
  https://flatt.tech/en/
  
  https://group.gmo/en/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250814363932/en/

“GMO Ierae Clinches Third Straight World Title at DEF CON 33’s Cloud Village CTF.” One of the toughest stages in global cybersecurity, now conquered three years in a row.