Welcome to Cyber Like A Viking
Embracing the Cyber Viking Spirit
My Cyber Viking Crews
The Cyber Viking
Sailing the Digital Seas Like a Viking
CyberPatriot teams I Coach and Mentor - CyberTexas Foundation May's Cyber Cup Luncheon March 2025
2024 - 2025 Medina Valley AFJROTC CyberPatriot Team
2024 - 2025 Hondo Cyber Owls CyberPatriot Team
2024 - 2025 Alamo Academies CyberPatriot Team
I let AI turn my CyberPatriot teams into action figures—because nothing says "cybersecurity" like seeing yourself as a Viking with a keyboard sword. The lab was a blast, but their AI prompts? Comedy gold.
I’m Coach Frank “The Cyber Viking” Hall — a proud CyberPatriot coach and mentor, leading the charge to train the next generation of cyber defenders. My mission? To raid the vast seas of technology, seize knowledge, and arm K–12 students, parents, and senior citizens with the skills to navigate and protect their digital worlds.
This isn’t just another tech blog — it’s a warship of wisdom! Here, we storm through cyber challenges, defend our digital villages, and chart safe courses for every age group. From the youngest recruits learning their first commands to the seasoned veterans of life exploring the online frontier, everyone has a place on this crew.
So grab your sword (or your mouse) and join me — the digital seas await, and together, we’ll conquer them!
2024 - 2025 Robert G. Cole High School CyberPatriot Team
I sail the vast and uncharted seas of technology and cybersecurity—axe in one hand, shield in the other. Like the Vikings of old, I venture fearlessly into the unknown, exploring new tools, tactics, and territories in the digital realm. My mission is to equip fellow adventurers—whether individuals or businesses—with the knowledge, skills, and battle gear they need to navigate the online world with confidence, resilience, and learn to Cyber Like A Viking!
What You’ll Find Here:-
Tech & Cyber Insights – From cutting-edge tools to real-world security tips.
- Cyber Safety for All Ages
– Practical advice to keep kids, teens, and adults safe in today’s online world.
-The CyberPatriot Saga – Updates, behind-the-scenes stories, and victories from my award-winning high school and AFJROTC cyber teams.
- Community Involvement
– My adventures in the Texas cyber community, from teaching at camps to speaking at conferences.
Whether you’re a curious newcomer, a parent wanting to keep your kids safe online, or a seasoned tech warrior, Cyber Like A Viking is your home port for knowledge, strategy, and a few battle cries along the way.
Sharpen your digital axe, tighten your cyber shield, and join me on this journey — because in today’s world, you don’t just live online… you defend it.
Skål,
Coach Frank Hall
“The Cyber Viking”
Cyber Viking Chronicles
Newsletters and Cyber Viking Syslogs
Dive into the latest editions of the official newsletters from the Medina Valley AFJROTC and Hondo Cyber Owls CyberPatriot Teams — packed with epic wins, behind-the-scenes stories, and the kind of cyber action that’ll make your firewall blush.
Just here for my personal war stories and cyber adventures? No problem — you can jump straight into the Cyber Viking Syslogs and set sail on a wild ride through the digital seas.
Bits and Bytes
Sound the digital war drums and ready your keyboards — the latest edition of our official newsletter is here to rally the clan! Within these pages lie the tales of our fiercest battles, cunning strategies, and hard-earned victories from the cyber frontlines.
From storming the virtual gates in competition to holding the line against relentless challenges, the Medina Valley AFJROTC CyberPatriot team has fought with skill, honor, and unstoppable determination.
Join the raid — read our saga, witness the triumphs, and feel the pulse of the cyber battlefield. The shield wall is strong… and the next conquest is already on the horizon
Follow the Cyber Panthers on Facebook
The Cyber Talon
The wait is over! The latest edition of the official Hondo Cyber Owls CyberPatriot newsletter has landed, and it’s packed with the stories, victories, and behind-the-scenes moments that define our cyber season.
From high-stakes competitions to late-night troubleshooting marathons, we’ve captured the triumphs, challenges, and the unshakable teamwork that keeps our squad flying high in the digital skies. Whether you’re a teammate, parent, supporter, or future Cyber Owl, this is your VIP pass into our world of cyber defense, strategy, and a little bit of controlled chaos.
Click, read, and see why the Hondo Cyber Owls are more than just a team—we’re a cyber family on a mission to defend the digital frontier.
Follow the Cyber Owls on Facebook
Cyber Viking Syslogs
Welcome to The Cyber Viking Syslogs – my personal corner of the team newsletter where I hoist the digital sails and dive headfirst into the ever-changing seas of cybersecurity. Each entry is a battle report from the front lines of the real-world cyber realm—covering hot topics, breaking threats, and the hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface of the internet.
This isn’t dry tech talk. This is cyber storytelling with a Viking edge—designed to educate, empower, and prepare our team for the challenges they’ll face in the digital battlefield. Whether it’s dissecting the latest ransomware raid or charting the map of a major data breach, you’ll walk away sharper, wiser, and ready to defend your digital village.
Stay vigilant. Stay fierce. Stay Cyber Viking.
Cyber Community Impact: Coaching, Mentoring, and Inspiring the Next Generation
I’ve had the privilege of making cybersecurity not just my career, but my mission — building pathways for students, educators, and communities to thrive in the digital world.
I coach the Hondo Cyber Owls and the Medina Valley AFJROTC CyberPatriot teams, and have also served as a mentor for the Alamo Academies ITSA CyberPatriot team and the Robert G. Cole CyberPatriot team. Through my work with the CyberTexas Foundation, I’ve run both Standard and Advanced CyberPatriot Camps, giving students hands-on experience with Windows, Linux, networking, and cybersecurity operations.
My outreach spans across Texas: I’ve presented at BSides San Antonio (BSides SATX), the WeTeach_CS Summit, the Angelo State University Cyber Security Round Up, and the Annual Youth Cybersecurity Workshop and Expo. I’ve worked with San Angelo ISD and DoD STARBASE to inspire young minds, and collaborated with the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) to bring high-performance computing and cybersecurity concepts to educators and students alike.
I serve on the Harlandale ISD Cybersecurity Advisory Board and the St. Philip’s College Cybersecurity Advisory Board, helping shape curriculum and opportunities for future cyber professionals. I also partner with community organizations like the Hondo Public Library to bring free, accessible cybersecurity workshops to rural areas.
From creating CTF-style challenges that blend fun with real-world security skills, to teaching parents, students, and seniors about online safety, my mission is clear — empower every learner, in every community, to defend and thrive in the digital age.
The CyberTexas Foundation is a San Antonio–based nonprofit dedicated to building Texas’ next generation of cybersecurity talent and educators. Since 2015, they’ve connected schools, industry, and government to advance cyber education, workforce readiness, and community awareness.
They’ve helped San Antonio lead the nation in CyberPatriot participation for nearly a decade and are the driving force behind the Mayor’s Cyber Cup, where top teams earn scholarships, internships, and recognition. Their programs include summer camps, all-girls cyber initiatives, and cyber safety workshops for students, parents, and even senior citizens.
With partnerships across UTSA, Alamo Colleges, tech companies, and defense organizations, the CyberTexas Foundation has impacted over 20,000 students, creating a pipeline from classroom to career. They aren’t just supporting competitions—they’re shaping the future cyber defenders of Texas and beyond.
CyberPatriot is the nation’s premier youth cyber defense competition, created by the Air & Space Forces Association to inspire and equip the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Open to middle and high school students, the program places teams in a fast-paced, real-world simulation where they act as IT specialists defending corporate networks.
Over several timed competition rounds, students work to secure Windows and Linux operating systems, configure Cisco networking equipment, patch vulnerabilities, and maintain critical services—all while under simulated cyberattacks. Teams must balance technical skill, problem-solving, and collaboration to score points and stay ahead of the clock.
More than just a competition, CyberPatriot provides hands-on experience, mentorship, and industry-relevant skills that prepare students for careers in cybersecurity, IT, and beyond. It challenges them to not just use technology, but to protect it—shaping tomorrow’s cyber defenders today.
"BSides events combine security expertise from a variety of platforms in search of the “next big thing” in information security. BSides is an open platform that gives security experts and industry professionals the opportunity to share ideas, insights, and develop longstanding relationships with others in the community. It is a rare opportunity to directly connect and create trusted relationships with key members of the community.
Each BSides is a community-driven framework for building events for and by information security community members. The goal is to expand the spectrum of conversation beyond the traditional confines of space and time. It creates opportunities for individuals to both present and participate in an intimate atmosphere that encourages collaboration. It is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from participants. It is where conversations for the next-big-thing are happening."
The Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at The University of Texas at San Antonio is a national leader in cybersecurity research, training, and workforce development. Established in 2001, the CIAS is dedicated to strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure through innovative programs that support communities, schools, and government agencies.
From pioneering cyber defense exercises and state-wide cybersecurity assessments to developing award-winning K-12 cyber education initiatives like CyberPatriot and the CIAS Cyber Threat Defender card game, the CIAS drives real-world impact. With deep expertise in critical infrastructure protection, cyber resilience, and workforce pipeline development, the CIAS empowers the next generation of cyber defenders—locally, nationally, and globally.