“If You Want to Study Cybersecurity, You Have to Come to Graz”

The parquet floor is spotless, the computer screens are free of dust and next to the fridge, which is generously stocked with Club Mate, a few boxes are waiting to be unpacked. The LosFuzzys have just moved into their new team room on Campus Inffeldgasse at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz). The FuzzyLab at TU Graz’s newly constructed Cybersecurity Campus is the centrepiece of the building: a large room on the ground floor, not to be overlooked directly next to the entrance, with two glass fronts from the ceiling to the floor facing Sandgasse and the campus area.

“We’re more or less sitting in the window display and think it’s great. Everyone can just come to us!” says Alexander Handl. He is currently one of 25 active “Fuzzys” and proudly shows us round the team’s new home. “We still need a projector here, a whiteboard is still missing and we’d like some bright lettering with the LosFuzzys logo on the window. Then it’ll be really perfect.” 

How do I learn hacking?

Under the motto “Don’t feed the bugs”, the LosFuzzys track down security vulnerabilities in IT systems and take part in IT security competitions. Anyone who is interested in cybersecurity and has time and openness for the community can take part. At the beginning of the winter semester each year, the team offers beginner training sessions for all interested students. “We show what the Fuzzys are all about, what a cybersecurity competition looks like, and what our big topics are. Usually 25 to 30 people come at the beginning. In the end, we can welcome a good handful of them to our team,” says fellow Fuzzy Sebastian Felix. “This taster session is very important because many people imagine ‘hacking’ to be a bit, well, more exciting than it actually is. You do sit in front of the computer a lot.” Emanuel Petter adds: “You really need an interest in the subject, perseverance, tenacity and, yes, also the ability to sit still for long periods. Perhaps also a weakness for caffeine. Especially during the major international competitions, which last eight to 24 hours at a time.” 

Fuzzies on the road worldwide

The team is also dedicated to capture-the-flag challenges, or CTFs for short. The aim of these competitions is to find text strings – so-called “flags” – that are hidden in programmes or websites that are specifically vulnerable to attack. “CTF challenges are like puzzles. It’s about finding and solving problems. Or more to the point, finding problems and exploiting them for your own ends,” explains Alexander Handl. In a few days, the team will be travelling to Switzerland for the “Insomni’hack” hacking contest. (Update: The LosFuzzys took a sensational 3rd place at Insomni’hack 2026.) Last year, the LosFuzzys took 9th place out of 114 teams.

“Our trip to Las Vegas in 2025 to take part in DEF CON – the biggest hacking convention ever and the premier class of CTF games – was also very special,” recalls Sebastian Felix. At the same time, he emphasises: “If you want to study and conduct research on cybersecurity, you don’t have to go to Las Vegas or Switzerland – you have to come to Graz.” TU Graz has long been recognised as one of the most exciting and visible hotspots for cybersecurity in Europe.

Companies on board

The LosFuzzys association receives funding for participation in competitions from the Institute of Information Security (ISEC) at TU Graz and from TU Graz itself, which goes out of its way to promote and support its competitive student teams. On the other hand, the LosFuzzys also have high-calibre sponsors at their side. “There are some companies that are very interested in us and our work. They like to invite us to events and introduce themselves to us. I think companies are very happy to recruit people from student teams because we deal with these topics on our own initiative outside of our studies and tend to be more familiar with them in practice. As a result we have great additional qualifications. Let’s put it this way: we Fuzzys don’t worry about our career prospects,” says Sebastian Felix with a wink. He’s in the final stages of his master’s degree and has already got his foot in the door of an IT company. 

As a Fuzzy through your studies

Membership of the LosFuzzys is not only good for your career prospects. It is also easier to study as a Fuzzy, as Emanuel Petter emphasises: “There’s much more motivation to tackle the more difficult courses in the group. We don’t compete with each other; we have a lively exchange and support each other. Those who achieve something pass on their knowledge. That is very important to us.” Active Fuzzys include bachelor’s and master’s students as well as doctoral candidates.

“And all the Fuzzies who have finished their studies and want to stay connected to the team become ‘LosAlumnis’,” says Alexander Handl with a grin. According to the motto “Once a Fuzzy, always a Fuzzy.”

TU Graz offers the specialisation Information Security in the English-language master’s degree programmes  „Computer Science“ and „Software Engineering and Management“.