From Curiosity to Cybersecurity: How a Bangladeshi Teen Became the World's 3rd Ranked Ethical Hacker

A white television with extra cables caught young Muhammad Julfikar Hyder's attention in 2007. The device would change his life forever. Today, he ranks 3rd worldwide on HackerOne and has earned recognition from Apple, Harvard, eBay, Ford, and the UN.

His journey proves you don't need expensive equipment or perfect circumstances to succeed in cybersecurity. You need curiosity and persistence.

Starting with Nothing

Hyder grew up in a Bangladesh joint family with one shared computer. His cousin Sadek owned the machine, and children faced strict restrictions from using the expensive device.

"I discovered the computer was a box of dreams, like a magic box that would take me on adventures," Hyder recalls.

He watched older cousins play "Road Rush" and "Age of Empires" from a distance. In 2009, he finally played his first game. By 2011, the family upgraded to 2GB RAM and Windows 7. Hyder got his first Facebook account and discovered the internet.

Breaking Through Restrictions

His brother restricted computer access to prevent gaming from affecting studies. Instead of accepting limits, Hyder found solutions.

He learned to manipulate system time on boot menus to extend access. When his brother removed guest account privileges entirely, Hyder turned to online forums.

He discovered how to bypass Windows 7 passwords through System Recovery Options using two Command Prompt commands. This early success taught him about system vulnerabilities and sparked deeper interest in how technology works.

From Black Hat to White Hat

The 2012 Bangladesh India cyber conflict introduced Hyder to hacking concepts. In 2016, he and his cousin experimented with keyloggers at cyber cafes, collecting 400+ Facebook and Gmail accounts.

"We didn't fully understand the consequences," he admits.

By 2017, Hyder shifted focus entirely to ethical hacking and bug bounties. He mastered SQL injection vulnerabilities in one day and began testing websites systematically.

Working with his dual core processor and 2GB RAM, he started on bug bounty platforms despite limited resources and language barriers.

Building Community

Hyder co founded Bug Bounty Community Bangladesh with friends K.M. Tanvir, Remon, and brother SMH Tahsin. They created a platform where aspiring ethical hackers could learn together.

The community organized training sessions, workshops, and conferences across Bangladesh. Their efforts helped establish Bangladesh as a notable presence in the global bug bounty scene.

Rising to the Top

Hyder's dedication paid off as he climbed bug bounty platform rankings. His HackerOne profile shows recognition from prestigious organizations worldwide.

In October 2023, he achieved 3rd place worldwide in HackerOne's highest reputation category. He now works as Red Team Researcher at Beetles Cyber Security Ltd and trains others at Eshikhon.com.

His certifications include:

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) from EC-Council

• Computer Science and Engineering degree

• Multiple cybersecurity specializations

Overcoming Setbacks

Late 2022 brought personal losses and seven months of depression. "The weight of these losses bore down on me," Hyder shares.

Support from bug bounty community friends, particularly Ansar Uddin Anan and Remon, helped his recovery. He returned to research with renewed focus and determination.

Key Lessons for You

Hyder's story offers practical insights for your cybersecurity journey:

Start where you are. Limited resources didn't stop his progress. Use what you have and focus on learning fundamentals.

Turn restrictions into opportunities. His brother's computer restrictions led to his first vulnerability discoveries.

Build community. Connect with others in your field. Share knowledge and grow together.

Stay ethical. The line between black hat and white hat hacking matters. Choose the path that helps others.

Persist through setbacks. Depression and personal losses didn't end his career. Support systems and purpose keep you going.

Focus on impact, not money. "Chasing money was never my main motivation. Pursuing passion kept me going," Hyder explains.

Your Next Steps

Hyder's journey from restricted computer access to global recognition shows what persistence and ethical focus achieve. His commitment to community building ensures his impact extends beyond individual success.

You don't need perfect conditions to start your cybersecurity career. You need curiosity about how systems work and determination to keep learning when obstacles appear.

The digital world needs more professionals like Hyder who combine technical excellence with ethical principles. Start learning, find your community, and remember that your limitations today don't define your potential tomorrow.