Ankit Fadia
Encyclopedia
Ankit Fadia is an independent computer security consultant. He runs a program on computer security for corporates in alliance with Reliance Info.
At 15, his book on Ethical Hacking made him the youngest author to be published by Macmillan
India.
Fadia has also sponsored Singapore Management University
's "Ankit Fadia Study Award", which consists of a $1000 cash prize and Certificate which is annually awarded to "an outstanding student" in the Information Security and Trust Course under the Bachelor of Science (Information System Management) degree.
Fadia is currently undergoing a BS degree in Computer Science from Stanford University
, as claimed in his official resume.
, though no ranked list of "hacking sites" has been published by the FBI.
In 2000, Chennai Online reported that Fadia's consulting clients included several of the largest technology and financial services companies in the world. No other source corroborates that report; were it true, Fadia's client list would exceed that of many of the largest independent security consultancies. The same article reported Fadia's involvement in decrypting a message from an Al Qaeda operative; no other source corroborates that claim, nor does any of Fadia's
published work involve cryptography
or cryptanalysis
.
In April 2000, Rediff.com
published an interview with Ankit Fadia. Anti-India Crew (AIC), a Pakistani hacker group noted for defacing Indian Government
websites, rubbished the claims that Fadia had made in the interview. Fadia had claimed that his alert to a U.S.
spy agency had prevented an attack by Pakistani hackers. However, he never divulged the name of the agency, citing security reasons. AIC and another Pakistani hacker group WFD defaced an Indian Government site, epfindia.gov.in, and "dedicated" it to Fadia in mock deference to his capabilities to hack or prevent hacking.
Some security experts in India dismissed him as just another fad. Others claim that he is merely a Script kiddie
. The website Attrition.org
has a detailed page documenting and dismissing most of the claims made by Fadia.
In December 2009 Fadia's business site, hackingmobilephones.com appeared to be promoting pharmaceutical products for erectile dysfunction. Fadia said, "The problem lies in the server and all the sites hosted by it have been infected."
Fadia claims that his books are being "used as text books in computer security courses across South-East Asia". In 2005, Fadia said that he is going to write a thriller on the lines of Dan Brown
's Digital Fortress
, which he hopes to make into a movie. He claimed that a production company has approached him with a blanket offer.
Biography
He started a website called "HackingTruths".At 15, his book on Ethical Hacking made him the youngest author to be published by Macmillan
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
India.
Fadia has also sponsored Singapore Management University
Singapore Management University
The Singapore Management University was officially incorporated on January 12, 2000, and was Singapore's first private university funded by the government...
's "Ankit Fadia Study Award", which consists of a $1000 cash prize and Certificate which is annually awarded to "an outstanding student" in the Information Security and Trust Course under the Bachelor of Science (Information System Management) degree.
Fadia is currently undergoing a BS degree in Computer Science from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, as claimed in his official resume.
Authenticity of claims
According to Wendy McAuliffe at ZDNet UK, Fadia's Hacking Truths website was judged "second best hacking site" by the Federal Bureau of InvestigationFederal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, though no ranked list of "hacking sites" has been published by the FBI.
In 2000, Chennai Online reported that Fadia's consulting clients included several of the largest technology and financial services companies in the world. No other source corroborates that report; were it true, Fadia's client list would exceed that of many of the largest independent security consultancies. The same article reported Fadia's involvement in decrypting a message from an Al Qaeda operative; no other source corroborates that claim, nor does any of Fadia's
published work involve cryptography
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
or cryptanalysis
Cryptanalysis
Cryptanalysis is the study of methods for obtaining the meaning of encrypted information, without access to the secret information that is normally required to do so. Typically, this involves knowing how the system works and finding a secret key...
.
In April 2000, Rediff.com
Rediff.com
Rediff.com India is a news, information, entertainment, and shopping portal. It was founded in 1996 as "Rediff On The NeT" and is headquartered in Mumbai, India with offices in New Delhi and New York City, USA....
published an interview with Ankit Fadia. Anti-India Crew (AIC), a Pakistani hacker group noted for defacing Indian Government
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
websites, rubbished the claims that Fadia had made in the interview. Fadia had claimed that his alert to a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
spy agency had prevented an attack by Pakistani hackers. However, he never divulged the name of the agency, citing security reasons. AIC and another Pakistani hacker group WFD defaced an Indian Government site, epfindia.gov.in, and "dedicated" it to Fadia in mock deference to his capabilities to hack or prevent hacking.
Some security experts in India dismissed him as just another fad. Others claim that he is merely a Script kiddie
Script kiddie
A script kiddie or skiddie, occasionally skid, script bunny, script kitty, script-running juvenile or similar, is a derogatory term used to describe those who use scripts or programs developed by others to attack computer systems and networks and deface websites.-Characteristics:In a Carnegie...
. The website Attrition.org
Attrition (website)
Attrition is an information security-related website, updated at least weekly by an all-volunteer staff. Until 21 May 2001, Attrition maintained the largest mirror of defaced websites available on the World Wide Web...
has a detailed page documenting and dismissing most of the claims made by Fadia.
In December 2009 Fadia's business site, hackingmobilephones.com appeared to be promoting pharmaceutical products for erectile dysfunction. Fadia said, "The problem lies in the server and all the sites hosted by it have been infected."
TV shows
According to the DNA Newspaper article, in Oct 2009 MTV India announced the launch of Ankit Fadia's new TV show on MTV called What the Hack! According to the MTV India website, on the show What The Hack! Ankit Fadia gives tips on how to make good use of the internet and answers people's queries/questions. Internet users email their problems to MTV India and Ankit gives them the solution.Books and Publications
- Fadia, Ankit. The Unofficial Guide to Ethical Hacking, Course Technology PTR, 2020.
- Fadia, Ankit. Network Security: A Hacker's Perspective, Course Technology PTR, 2020. ISBN 1598631632.
- Fadia, Ankit. Hacking Mobile Phones, Course Technology PTR, 2020. ISBN 1598631063.
- Fadia, Ankit. Tips and Tricks on Linux, Centro Atlantico, 2002. ISBN 972-8426-34-8.
- Fadia, Ankit. Email Hacking, Vikas Publishing, 2020. ISBN 9788125918134.
- Fadia, Ankit. Windows Hacking, Vikas Publishing, 2020. ISBN 9788125918141.
- Fadia, Ankit; Jaya Bhattacharjee. Encryption Protecting your Data, Vikas Publishing, 2020. ISBN 9788125922513.
- Fadia, Ankit; Zacharia, Manu. Intrusion Alert: An Ethical Hacking Guide to Intrusion Detection, Course Technology PTR, 2020. ISBN 1598634143.
- Ankit, Fadia; Diwakar, Goel. Google Hacking - An Ethical Guide, Vikas Publications, 2020. ISBN 8125922490.
- Das Patnaik, Nishant; Ankit, Fadia. Software Hacking, Vikas Publications, 2008. ISBN 9788125928676.
- Ankit, Fadia; Boonlia, Prince. System Forensics, Vikas Publications, 2020. ISBN 9788125931515.
- Ankit, Fadia; Singh, Aditya. Cracking Admissions in Colleges Abroad, Vikas Publications, 2020. ISBN 9788125930754.
Fadia claims that his books are being "used as text books in computer security courses across South-East Asia". In 2005, Fadia said that he is going to write a thriller on the lines of Dan Brown
Dan Brown
Dan Brown is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code. Brown's novels, which are treasure hunts set in a 24-hour time period, feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories...
's Digital Fortress
Digital Fortress
Digital Fortress is a techno-thriller novel written by American author Dan Brown and published in 1998 by St. Martin's Press. The book explores the theme of government surveillance of electronically stored information on the private lives of citizens, and the possible civil liberties and ethical...
, which he hopes to make into a movie. He claimed that a production company has approached him with a blanket offer.