🔥 Top 7 Real-Life Ethical Hacking Examples That Made History
Ethical hackers — also known as white hat hackers — have played a huge role in uncovering vulnerabilities and protecting millions of users. Some of their actions even changed the course of cybersecurity history. Here are 7 real-life examples of ethical hacking that left a mark.
1. The Facebook Bug That Paid $33,500
In 2013, ethical hacker Sow Ching Shiong discovered a critical vulnerability in Facebook’s OAuth implementation. This flaw could allow attackers to take over any Facebook account without knowing the password.
- Impact: If exploited by black hats, millions of accounts could have been compromised.
- Reward: Facebook paid him $33,500, one of their largest bug bounty payouts at that time.
2. Tesla Car Hacking by Keen Security Lab
In 2016, Keen Security Lab, a team of ethical hackers from China, found vulnerabilities in Tesla’s Model S that allowed remote control of the car — including the brakes and doors.
- Impact: Tesla immediately patched the flaw with an over-the-air update.
- Why it matters: It showed that even smart vehicles could be targets for cyberattacks.
3. Google Pay Vulnerability by India’s Hacker
In 2020, Indian ethical hacker Laxman Muthiyah discovered a bug in Google Pay that could let attackers hack payment tokens and steal money.
- Reward: Google paid him $7,500 for the report.
- Significance: This vulnerability could have affected millions of transactions globally.
4. Apple’s iCloud Account Takeover
In 2019, 16-year-old ethical hacker Joshua Rogers from Australia found a severe flaw in Apple’s iCloud servers that allowed him to access user accounts.
- Impact: Apple fixed the issue before any harm was done.
- Why it matters: It proved that even tech giants are not immune to flaws.
5. Microsoft Account Takeover by Ormandy
Famous security researcher Tavis Ormandy discovered a vulnerability in Microsoft’s login system that allowed account hijacking via malicious links.
- Impact: Millions of users could have had their Outlook, Xbox, or Skype accounts stolen.
- Reward: Microsoft patched the bug and paid a large bounty.
6. NASA Hack for Good
In the early 2000s, ethical hackers at NASA ran internal pentests and discovered vulnerabilities that could give remote access to satellite commands.
- Impact: Patching these flaws prevented potential sabotage of satellite communications.
- Significance: It highlighted the importance of securing critical infrastructure.
7. Uber Data Breach Exposed by HackerOne Program
In 2017, ethical hackers on the HackerOne platform discovered severe data leaks in Uber’s servers, including sensitive driver information.
- Impact: Uber fixed the issues and increased its bug bounty payouts.
- Why it matters: It encouraged more companies to run bug bounty programs.
Final Thoughts
These examples prove that ethical hackers are essential heroes in the digital age. Their discoveries have saved companies billions of dollars, protected user data, and raised awareness about cybersecurity.
Hacking isn’t always bad — it depends on which hat you’re wearing.