Jain13tushar at 13:28, 31 October 2021

2021-10-31T13:28:09Z

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{{short description|Indian author and speaker (born 20 july 1999)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=February 2020}}
{{Confusing|date=February 2020}}
}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox writer 
| image =
| image_size =
| caption = Fadia at the launch of himself
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1989}}<ref name="birthyear" />
| birth_place = [[Ahmedabad]], India
| occupation = Author & speaker
| education =
| alma_mater = D Public School
| genre = Technology, entertainer
| notableworks = ''FASTER: 100 Ways To Improve Your Digital life''<br />''SOCIAL: 50 Ways To Improve Your Professional Life''
| website =
| name = Ankit Fadia
}}
'''Ankit Fadia''' (born 24 May 1985)<ref name="birthyear">{{cite web|title=celebsagewiki|url=https://www.celebsagewiki.com/ankit-fadia|accessdate=31 October 2021}}</ref> is an Indian author, speaker, television host, a security [[charlatan]],<ref name="youtube.com" /> and self-proclaimed [[White_hat_(computer_security)|white-hat computer hacker]]. His work mostly involves OS and networking tips and tricks and proxy websites'''.<ref name="Times of India">{{cite web |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/How-to-live-appily-ever-after/articleshow/40713468.cms |title='How to live... 'appily' ever after' |work= The Times of India|access-date= 18 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article48684.ece |title= Inside account |author= Priyadarshini Pandey |access-date= 26 February 2013 |date= 14 November 2009 | newspaper = The Hindu | location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi-times/Ankit-Fadia-Everything-official-about-him/articleshow/414502089.cms |access-date = 6 December 2006| title = Ankit Fadia: Everything official about him| work= [[The Times of India]] |date= 3 September 2001}}</ref>'''

A number of his claims regarding his achievements have been disputed by others within the security industry, and he was mocked with a "Security [[Charlatan]] of the Year" award at [[DEF CON]] 20 in 2012.<ref name="youtube.com" /> [[Attrition (website)|Attrition.org]] also reviewed his alleged credentials and included him on their Security Charlatans list,<ref name=":0" /> calling into question the veracity of his marketing statements. He has been accused of [[plagiarism]] in his work.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Errata: Ankit Fadia – "Unofficial Guide to Ethical Hacking" 32% Plagiarized |url= http://attrition.org/errata/charlatan/ankit_fadia/unofficial.html |website = attrition.org |access-date= 19 September 2015}}</ref> His claims of hacking feats have since been trashed by many [[Computer magazine|magazines]].<ref>{{Cite web |title= Ethical hacker Ankit Fadia is a fake |url= http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/ethical-hacker-ankit-fadia-is-a-fake| work=Sunday Guardian|access-date= 19 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Shunol Doke |title= Ankit Fadia's website hacked again – Tech2 |url= http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/ankit-fadias-website-hacked-again-41559.html |date=18 September 2012 |access-date= 29 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= Forbes India Magazine – Ankit Fadia Revealed |url= http://forbesindia.com/article/beyond-business/ankit-fadia-revealed/34793/0 |website= forbesindia.com |access-date= 19 September 2015}}</ref>

== Early life ==
At the age of 10, his parents gifted him a computer and he says he started taking an interest in [[hacker|hacking]] after a year of playing video games when he read a newspaper article on the subject.<ref name="rediff_kashmiri_2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/search/2002/apr/18ankit.htm |title=Rediff Guide to the Net: Features: 16-year-old hacker Ankit Fadia outsmarts Kashmiri separatists |work=Rediff.com|date=18 April 2002 |access-date=26 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="Success Decoded">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140112/jsp/graphiti/17757828.jsp |title=Success Decoded |work=The Telegraph|access-date=21 September 2014}}</ref> He soon started a website ''hackingtruths.box.sk'' where he wrote hacking [[tutorial]]s, which acquired many readers and encouraged him to write a book.<ref name="rediff_kashmiri_2002"/><ref name="BBC_2002">{{cite news | date = 17 April 2002 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1934874.stm | title = Indian hacker turns cyber cop | work = BBC News | access-date = 26 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2003/04/19/stories/2003041901390700.htm | date = 19 April 2003 | title = E2 labs to combat cyber crime in Hyderabad | work = Business Line | access-date = 19 December 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030413/cth1.htm | date = 13 April 2003 | author=Manoj Kumar | title = Teen hacker who is sought after by FBI | publisher = The Tribune, Chandigarh | access-date = 19 August 2006 }}</ref> The book received favorable responses in India, made Fadia popular in the country, and turned his hobby into a full-time profession.<ref name="Success Decoded" /> However, he was also accused of [[plagiarism]].<ref name="sunday_guardian_2012"/>

== Career ==
He wrote more books on computer security, and spoke at several seminars across schools and colleges in India.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article497533.ece | title = Caught in the web | author = K. Jeshi | newspaper = The Hindu | date = 3 July 2010 | access-date = 1 March 2013 | location=Chennai, India}}</ref> In addition, he started providing his own computer security courses, including the "Ankit Fadia Certified Ethical Hacker" programme.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070204/asp/calcutta/story_7327984.asp |title=The inheritance of food | newspaper = The Telegraph |date= 4 February 2007 |access-date=1 March 2013 }}</ref>

In 2009, Fadia stated that he was working in New York as an Internet security expert for "prestigious companies".<ref name="TH_hack_2009">{{cite news | url = http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/11/16/stories/2009111650950300.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130501010452/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/11/16/stories/2009111650950300.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 1 May 2013 | title = How the hack he does it! | date = 16 November 2009 | access-date = 1 March 2013 | newspaper = [[The Hindu]] | location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Fadia also [[celebrity branding|endorsed]] the Flying Machine jeans brand of [[Arvind Mills]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-10-21/news/27587443_1_youth-icon-brand-ambassador-mtv-india | title = Flying Machine endorsement: Ethical Hacker Fadia replaces Abhishek Bacchan | date = 21 October 2012 | access-date = 1 March 2013 | newspaper = [[The Economic Times]] | author = Ratna Bhushan }}</ref>

Fadia was dismissed by security and cryptography enthusiasts as a 'faker' making tall claims, who attributed his success to the [tech-illiterate] media.<ref name="sunday_guardian_2012">{{cite news | url = http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/ethical-hacker-ankit-fadia-is-a-fake | title = Ethical hacker Ankit Fadia is a fake | date = 19 February 2012 | access-date = 26 February 2013 | newspaper = The Sunday Guardian | author = Shubhankar Adhikari }}</ref> A security professional, who uses the handle @FakeAnkitFadia on Twitter, told ''The Sunday Guardian'', "The first book that Fadia 'wrote' at the age of 14, ''The Unofficial Guide to Ethical Hacking'', was a little over 32% [plagiarised] from other security publications and websites."<ref name="SMH_2003">{{cite news | title=Hacktivism through the eyes of an infiltrator | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/04/1059849331034.html | author=Suelette Dreyfus | date = 5 August 2003 | access-date = 26 February 2013 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Fadia has dismissed the critics who question his credibility as an expert, saying "If I had been fake, my growth would have stopped 10 years ago".<ref>{{cite news|title=A clean hacker|author=Rana Siddiqui Zaman|date=22 January 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

== Debunked hacking claims ==
In 2002, Fadia claimed that at the age of 17, he had defaced the website of an Indian magazine.<ref name="BBC_2002"/> Subsequently, he named the magazine as the Indian edition of [[CHIP (magazine)|CHIP magazine]], and stated that the editor had offered him a job when informed about the defacement.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/inside-account/article48684.ece | title=Inside Account | author = Priyadarshini Paitandy | date=14 September 2009 | access-date = 1 March 2013 | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu}}</ref> In 2012, the [[Forbes India]] executive editor Charles Assisi (who was editor of CHIP India at the time of the supposed incident), denied that such an incident ever took place after verifying with his predecessor and successor at the magazine as well.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ankit Fadia Revealed|url=http://forbesindia.com/article/beyond-business/ankit-fadia-revealed/34793/0|author=Charles Assissi|work=[[Forbes India]]|date=27 February 2013|access-date=27 February 2013}}</ref>

In a 2002 interview published on [[rediff.com]], and online hacking with Mashup(Sourav) from [[Bongaon]], [[Kolkata]], he stated that at the age of 16, he foiled an attempt by the [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|Kashmiri separatist]] hackers to [[website defacement|deface]] an Indian website.<ref name="rediff_kashmiri_2002"/> He stated he gathered information about the attackers, [[eavesdropping|eavesdropped]] on their [[online chat]] using one of their identities, and then mailed the transcript to a US spy organisation that had hired him.<ref name="thestar_2005">{{cite news | url = http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/2/27/nation/10276403&sec=nation | title = Teen helping adults fight 'bad guys' | author = M. Krishnamoorthy | newspaper = [[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] | date = 27 February 2005 | access-date = 26 February 2013 }}</ref> He did not divulge the name of the organization he worked for, citing security reasons.<ref name="BBC_2002"/> The Pakistani hacker group Anti-India Crew (AIC) questioned Fadia's claims: along with WFD, the AIC hacked the Indian government website epfindia.gov.in, dedicating it to Fadia, mocking his capabilities.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://hindu.com/2002/04/28/stories/2002042800921000.htm | title=This hacker has a different message | author=K. Srinivas Reddy | date=28 April 2002 | access-date=26 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221233959/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/04/28/stories/2002042800921000.htm | archive-date=21 December 2008 | url-status=live | work= [[The Hindu]] | location=Chennai, India}}</ref> AIC also announced that it would be defacing the website of the [[Central Board of Excise and Customs|CBEC]] (www.cbec.gov.in) within the next two days, and challenged Fadia to prevent it by patching the vulnerability but Fadia couldn't.<ref name="TheHindu_CBEC">{{cite news | url=http://hindu.com/2002/04/30/stories/2002043002271300.htm | title=Hacker threat to CBEC website | author=K. Srinivas Reddy | date=30 April 2002 | access-date=26 February 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081221234004/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/04/30/stories/2002043002271300.htm | archive-date=21 December 2008 | url-status=live | work=[[The Hindu]] | location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

In 2003, Fadia claimed to have infiltrated a group of hackers and stated that the Pakistani intelligence agencies were paying "[[westerners]]" to [[Website defacement|deface]] Indian websites with anti-India or pro-Pakistan content.<ref name="SMH_2003"/>

Fadia's own website has been hacked multiple times.<ref name="sunday_guardian_2012"/> In 2009, he blamed the defacement on a vulnerability in the servers of his [[webhost]] net4india. Independent security experts contested his claim, stating that the problem was a loophole in his own website's code. His website was hacked by an Indian [[hacker]] Himanshu Sharma, where he accepted the challenge from Ankit Fadia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Is Ankit Fadia selling Viagra? |url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/dec/081209-ankit-fadia-hacker-hacked.htm |author=MiD DAY |date=8 December 2009 |access-date=26 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213004836/http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/dec/081209-ankit-fadia-hacker-hacked.htm |archive-date=13 December 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, his website was defaced twice by hackers. In the first instance, the hackers rubbished his claims and stated that he was fooling people.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ankit-Fadia-s-Website-Suspended-After-Being-Defaced-by-Ganster-291673.shtml | title=Ankit Fadia's site Suspended After Being Hacked by Ganster | publisher = Softpedia | author = Eduard Kovacs | date = 12 September 2012 | access-date = 26 February 2013 }}</ref> Another hacker compromised it in response to a challenge that was issued by Fadia on the ''Tech Toyz'' show on CNBC-TV18.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a93qi17GqMU&feature=player_embedded|title=Tech Toyz Hacking Special Episode Part III|date=10 August 2011}}</ref>{{Synthesis inline|date=March 2013}}

In 2012, [[DEF CON]] awarded him with the "Security Charlatan of the Year" award<ref name="youtube.com">{{cite av media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIzvTwFwaYI&t=33m3s|title=DEFCON 20: DC RECOGNIZE Awards|date=16 November 2012|via=YouTube|access-date=28 September 2015}}</ref> citing him to be a fraudster and his presentations outdated. The website attrition.org mentions him as a security charlatan<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = attrition.org Errata – Charlatans|url = http://attrition.org/errata/charlatan/|website = attrition.org|access-date = 19 September 2015}}</ref> and accuses him of plagiarism in his work.

During September 2015, Fadia's official Facebook page posted a certificate which claimed that Fadia was appointed as the brand ambassador for Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]'s pet project, the [[Digital_India|Digital India Initiative]]. The government had then announced that it would pluck out young tech entrepreneurs to be its brand ambassadors which included the ilk of [[Sachin Bansal]] and [[Binny Bansal]] of [[Flipkart]], [[Snapdeal]]'s [[Kunal Bahl]] and [[Micromax]]'s Rahul Sharma.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/ankit-fadia-claims-to-be-appointed-brand-ambassador-of-digital-india-government-denies-3671967.html|title=Ankit Fadia: Claims to be appointed brand ambassador of Digital India, Government denies- Technology News, Firstpost|date=29 September 2015}}</ref> According to a report in India Today, government sources said there is "No such move to appoint a brand ambassador as reported".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/delhi/story/ankit-fadia-not-a-digital-india-ambassador-clarifies-government-265341-2015-09-29|title=Govt tries to clarify Ankit Fadia not a Digital India ambassador, adds to confusion|date=29 September 2015}}</ref>

==Television and web shows==

* MTV What The Hack

In 2008 he started a television show on [[MTV India]] called ''[[MTV What the Hack!]]'', which he co-hosted with José Covaco. In October 2009 [[MTV India]] announced the launch of Fadia's new TV show on MTV, where Fadia gave tips on how to make use of the Internet, and answered people's questions. <ref name="Dnaindia.com">{{cite web |url= http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_from-this-diwali-mtv-will-be-more-than-just-music_1298240 |title= From this Diwali, MTV will be more than just music – Money – DNA |work= Daily News and Analysis |date=12 October 2009 |access-date= 8 January 2012}}</ref> Internet users could email their problems to MTV India and Fadia gave them a solution on the show.<ref name="MTV India">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtvindia.com/news/news.php?id=3419|title=VJs, Music, Videos, Blogs, Games, Wallpapers, Interviews, Performances, Shows, Fun and more|publisher=MTV India|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121015512/http://www.mtvindia.com/news/news.php?id=3419|archive-date=21 November 2009}}</ref>

* Unzipped By Dell

In 2012, [[Dell]] India partnered with Ankit Fadia to create a series of nearly 50 videos, each of 1 minute duration to show tips and tricks for the use of computers and mobile phones. These videos were shown on the Dell India Facebook page with an average of one video per week. People also had the opportunity to ask tech queries of Fadia on topics like photography, video making, music composing, navigation assistance, gaming, messaging and others.<ref name="India Infoline News Service">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news/dell-india-in-association-with-ankit-fadia-presents-unzipped-by-dell-and-ankit-fadia-5555289971_1.html |title=Dell India in association with Ankit Fadia presents "Unzipped: By Dell and Ankit Fadia |publisher=India Infoline News Service |access-date=21 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://efytimes.com/e1/95718/Dell-India-In-Association-With-Ankit-Fadia-Presents-Unzipped-By-Dell-And-Ankit-Fadia |title=Dell India in association with Ankit Fadia presents "Unzipped: By Dell and Ankit Fadia |publisher=EFYTimes.com |access-date=21 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205230534/http://efytimes.com/e1/95718/Dell-India-In-Association-With-Ankit-Fadia-Presents-Unzipped-By-Dell-And-Ankit-Fadia |archive-date=5 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/UnzippedbyDell |title=Unzipped by Dell Facebook Page |via=Facebook|access-date=21 September 2012}}{{Primary source inline|date=September 2020}}</ref>

* Geek on the Loose

In 2013, Ankit Fadia started a [[YouTube]] show ''Geek on the Loose'', in collaboration with PING networks where he shared technology-related tips, tricks and apps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Short-cuts-for-the-tech-savvy/2013/07/18/article1688412.ece |title=Short-cuts for the tech savvy |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=21 September 2012}}</ref> The show was based on situations mentioned in his book FASTER: 100 Ways To Improve Your Digital Life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/books/ankit-fadia-aims-at-stretching-technology-limits/article1-1108564.aspx |title=Ankit Fadia aims at stretching technology limits |work=Hindustan Times|access-date=21 September 2012}}</ref> The show has got more than 750,000+ views on YouTube.<ref name="Geek on the Loose">{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/user/geekontheloose/about |via= YouTube |title= Geek on the Loose}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition ==
* IT Youth Award from the Singapore Computer Society (2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scs.org.sg/news_centre/Press%20Release%202012/Press%20Release_IT%20Leader%20Awards%202012.pdf |title=Media Release IT Leader Awards 2012 |publisher=Singapore Computer Society |access-date=23 September 2014}}</ref>
* Global Ambassador for Cyber Security (National Telecom Awards 2011)<ref>[http://www.cmaievents.com/awardees2011.php The CMAI 5th National Awards]. Cmaievents.com (8 June 2011). Retrieved 2 August 2013.</ref>
* Global Shaper, [[World Economic Forum]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalshapers.org/shapers/ankit-fadia |title=Ankit Fadia{{!}}World Economic Forum: Global Shapers |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=23 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205121332/http://www.globalshapers.org/shapers/ankit-fadia |archive-date=5 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Apart from aforementioned positive endorsements, Fadia's fabricated hacking claims garnered him some negative criticism too. He was nominated among the list of security charlatans in 2012. He was eventually awarded the same.
* [[DEF CON|DEF CON 20]] Security [[Charlatan]] of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/758921/ankit-fadias-biggest-hack-getting-modi-government-to-make-him-a-brand-ambassador|title=Ankit Fadia's biggest hack: Getting Modi government to make him a brand ambassador|last=Daniyal|first=Shoaib|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="youtube.com"/><ref>[http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=128306 Clarification on Appointment of Brand Ambassadors]. Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, 29 September 2015.</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian technology writers]]
[[Category:Delhi Public School alumni]]

Ankit Fadia - Revision history

Jain13tushar at 13:28, 31 October 2021