Viettel Cyber Security (VCS), the cybersecurity arm of Viettel Group, one of Asia’s largest telecommunications companies, announced its partnership with ROOTCON, the Philippines’ premier hacker conference, to host the inaugural VCS: CTRL Manila summit. The event, scheduled for November 19, 2025, will gather over 100 top cybersecurity professionals, thought leaders, and technical enthusiasts from the Philippines and across Southeast Asia to push the boundaries of digital defense.
The VCS: CTRL Manila 2025 summit is themed “Offense Meets Defense” and is designed to foster critical collaboration between offensive (Red Team) and defensive (Blue Team) practitioners. As organizations accelerate their digital transformation, cyber threats are growing faster and more complex. The summit will address this challenge by providing practical, real-world insights on how collaboration between ethical hackers and defenders can help organizations stay ahead of adaptive and persistent cyber threats.
“Technology can automate detection, but only human intuition can predict intent,” said Mr. Thomas Van Duc Luu, Country Manager, Viettel Cyber Security Philippines. “Behind every effective cybersecurity system are people—analysts, engineers, and ethical hackers—whose collaboration strengthens the collective defense of the region. By hosting VCS: CTRL Manila, VCS reinforces its commitment to nurturing this essential community of experts.”
The program is structured across four high-impact tracks—In-Depth Talks, Expert Networking, Interactive Q&A Sessions, and Applied Insights—to ensure participants leave equipped with both strategic perspective and practical tools.
The summit will feature five regional experts providing deep dives into both offensive and defensive operations, including:
- Duong Doan (Senior Web Security Researcher, Pwn2Own Winner): Sharing “Inside Messenger’s E2EE: Architecture and Security Insights.”
- Henry Nguyen (Country Service Manager, Philippines): Presenting a real-world case study on “Ransomware-as-a-Service.”
- Kien Nguyen Duc & Long Doan Minh (Threat Analysts, Viettel Cyber Security): Detailing “APT TA-SC-31 Exploits Trusted Websites to Launch Targeted Cyberattacks & Mustang Panda’s Evolving Arsenal.”
- Japz Divino (Principal Security Researcher, Viking Cloud): Discussing “The Human Side of Hacking: Stories from Those Who Break to Protect.”
- Jay Turla (Principal Security Researcher, VicOne): Exploring “How AI and Fuzzing Are Transforming Automotive Security.”
Attendees will participate in discussions ranging from advanced persistent threat (APT) cases and bug bounty exploits to detection modeling and coordinated incident response strategies. A significant focus will be placed on new discoveries regarding end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in Meta’s messaging applications.
EVENT DETAILS
- Event: VCS: CTRL Manila Summit
- Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2025
- Location: Manila, Philippines (Venue details to be shared with confirmed attendees)
- Attendance: Expected to draw over 100 participants from across Southeast Asia.
CALL TO ACTION Cybersecurity professionals and tech enthusiasts interested in attending VCS: CTRL Manila are encouraged to register and request details immediately through the official event channels.
