Student's Cybersecurity Discovery Earns U.S. Hall of Fame Spot

Despite limited access and facilities, Muhammad Wildan Al Ghozali, a student from Kotawaringin Timur in Central Kalimantan, has achieved global recognition. He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame by the U.S. Department of Education for his ethical contributions to discovering cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Wildan's achievement began with a report on a discovered vulnerability submitted through a responsible disclosure mechanism.

"Alhamdulillah, I am happy and proud because the report I sent was declared valid. I hope this can be a motivation that students from the region can also achieve internationally," Wildan said. The eleventh-grade student at MAN 1 Kotawaringin Timur developed his interest in technology during junior high school, initially drawn to gaming before exploring programming. He pursued self-study through social media, search engines, and online resources, eventually offering website development services before delving into cybersecurity.

His journey led him to the world of bug bounty programs, official initiatives by companies and institutions that reward ethical hackers for finding and reporting system vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Wildan's recognition from the U.S. Department of Education stemmed from his participation in a program on the Bugcrowd platform, which connects organizations with independent security researchers. He learned to identify potential vulnerabilities using techniques like Google Dorking on designated testing domains.

Wildan discovered a file containing sensitive data on a domain related to a U.S. client, identifying an information disclosure vulnerability. He explained that such flaws could lead to serious consequences, including the exposure of personal data, potential misuse for social engineering, identity theft, financial loss, and other cybercrimes. After reporting the finding through official channels and undergoing verification, his report was validated, earning him a place in the Hall of Fame for his contribution to system security.

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Alhamdulillah, I am happy and proud because the report I sent was declared valid. I hope this can be a motivation that students from the region can also achieve internationally.