Last year it was Orkut, and this time around, MTV’s youth icon 2008 award went to Ankit Fadia, the well known ethical hacker.
What’s interesting about Ankit’s achievements are the questions raised over his credibility (as a hacker):
Ankit Fadia is a typical charlatan who gets published in one article and rides the wave of not only poor journalism but also his own hype. For years, he has been quoted in low end online publications in India (his home country). Each time he is referenced as an ‘expert’ despite having no skills or accomplishments other than being quoted in these articles. No matter how bright this kid is, how much of a “prodigy” he is, he simply cannot be considered an ‘expert’ in security, especially with his FUD-based statements about “computer security” and “terrorism.” [source]
Even AIC (Anti-India Crew), a Pakistani hacker group known for defacing Indian websites has challenged him on his credentials:
..AIC said that it would be defacing the website of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), www.cbec.gov.in, within two days and challenged Fadia to prevent the attack by patching the vulnerable website. AIC maintained that Fadia should stop calling himself a hacker, if it succeeded in hacking the CBEC website.AIC kept its promise and defaced the CBEC website after two days. At another defaced website (bhelhyd.co.in), AIC termed the claims of Indian media about Ankit Fadia as “Bullshit – wikipedia
What’s your take on this year’s awards? The only interesting part about the award this time is the overall quality of nominations – consisted of entrepreneurs from different background and wasn’t restricted to the celebrities alone. Infact, a geek winning an award like this is an indication of changing times!
I have read his book.. I wouldn’t even consider Ankit Fadia as a geek.
I completely with the first quotation in the post from attrition.org
I am just overawed by power of media.. They can make anyone a super hacker, brave policeman, corrupt officers or dr jackal …
LOL
very true …
its _teh_ media!
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Finally someone notices
If you read his first claim to fame. his first book contains copy pasted material from all around. old crap, older then when he was prolly born or was still in his nappies. he claims to thank this hacker that hacker, which actually were on the copy pasted material as well. well he did well to compile all the stuff. does he even know abt hacking ..ethical or unethical and yes a word for the media, hackers are never out in the open boasting like he does. he cant even act like a hacker
my first reaction was *facepalm*
Well well well … this seems to be the funniest news @ the year end.
‘Ethical hacker’ ?? Oh please .. this would be like ‘knowledgeable intellectual’ . Hacking, in its most original sense _is_ ethical by itself.
And Ankit Fadia! He is another nincompoop who shot to fame, thnx to our ridiculously foolish media who, with their so called publicity-without-adequate-research skills. Honestly, I do not think the guys who chose this good for nothing plagiarist for the award can even differentiate between underwear and software.
Geek!! /* hope all the true geeks do not condemn themselves to void, after media termed that fool a geek! */
Ankit Fadia, in case you are seeing this, all we can say is, man, stop kidding around and grow up.
According to me …he only got himself nominated and gave himself votes to win this award….he made up with ids and voted ….thats the easiest way to win…he in no way can be a youth icon…..does anybody know wat he had ever done ????? why he calls himself a hacker…..????
Hacker ? geek?
Does he know anything apart from ping & traceroute, that to on windows ???
Read this article on ankit fadia AFCEH course and fake achivements
http://gstek.info/forum/index.php?topic=1209.0