Student hacks IITK website over rejection for their Cyber Security Course; Displays

In a bizarre turn of events, a cyber security student who couldn’t handle rejection for IITK’s cyber security, took a “different” approach, and hacked the college’s website. He also displayed a message. Detailed story below.

Displays "Fair Chance” message after hacking website

In an unusual turn of events, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) official website has hacked by a student who was rejected from their cyber security program. However, in an act of forgiveness IIT Kanpur Chooses Counseling Over Legal Action for Student Who Hacked Website After Rejection.

"Just a Fair Chance"

The student hacked not just IITKs website but also IIT Madras, after his application to a newly launched undergraduate (UG) program was rejected. However, both the premier engineering college, in an act of “pardon”, have choose the route of counselling, instead of reporting the matter. The premier institute plans to evaluate the applicant’s actual technical capabilities for a future admission cycle.

It was in the earlier days of this week when the breach came to light where a student posted screenshots of the hacked websites on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. The hacked website read, "Site is hacked. All I need is just a fair chance."

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“Ethical Hacking”?

The student said that his actions are not destined to harm, rather he aims to prove his competency after being excluded from the cyber security course. According to his social media posts, he completed formal application for IIT-K’s Bachelor of Cyber Security program, paid fees, and submitted documentation of his prior work in the field. Despite this, he was not shortlisted to participate in the admissions hackathon.

Institute's Response

IIT-K Director Manindra Agrawal clarified to news agency PTI that the student was filtered out because the screening committee found he lacked required foundational experience. While current academic session's admission window is closed, the director said, as quote by PTI, 

"We will invite the student to the institute, assess his technical skills through a proper test and, if he proves his competence, give him an opportunity in the next admission cycle,"

IITK is has followed this approach of fostering unconventional tech talent. Earlier this year, the institute's cybersecurity hub, C3iHub, extended a formal position to a young person who discovered vulnerabilities in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) online screen-marking portal.

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