A student who allegedly hacked the websites of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and IIT Madras after being denied admission to IIT Kanpur’s newly introduced Bachelor of Cyber Security programme could receive another opportunity, as the institute has decided to evaluate his technical abilities instead of immediately pursuing legal action.
The incident surfaced earlier this week when the student claimed on social media that he had breached the websites of IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras after being rejected from the undergraduate cybersecurity programme.
He later posted screenshots of the alleged breach on X and Reddit, maintaining that his intention was not to damage the systems but to showcase his skills.
The student allegedly posted a message on the IIT Kanpur website after gaining access, which stated, “Site is hacked. All I need is just a fair chance.”
In his social media posts, the student claimed that he had completed the application procedure, paid the required fee, submitted all necessary documents and provided evidence of his cybersecurity-related work. However, he alleged that he was not shortlisted and was not allowed to participate in the hackathon, which was part of the admission process.
IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal said the student was not selected for the programme because he did not have previous experience in cybersecurity.
“The admission process for this academic session has already concluded, so admission is not possible now. However, 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,” Agrawal told PTI.
Agrawal confirmed that the student had managed to access some sections of the official websites of IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras.
He said senior faculty members and engineers would engage with the student and explain that unauthorised access to computer systems is against the law and must not be repeated.
An IIT Kanpur official, who did not wish to be identified, said the institute had initially considered filing an FIR but chose to first verify the student’s claims and assess his technical capabilities before deciding on further action.
The official added that IIT Kanpur has previously supported promising cybersecurity talent. Earlier this year, the institute offered an opportunity at its C3iHub to a young individual who had discovered vulnerabilities in the CBSE’s online screen-marking portal.
