Kanpur: A student accused of breaching the websites of the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) and IIT Madras after missing out on admission to IIT-K’s new Bachelor of Cyber Security programme may still get a shot at the institute, which is looking at assessing his technical skills rather than taking immediate legal action.
The student allegedly posted a message on the IIT-K website saying, “Site is hacked. All I need is just a fair chance.” He later said on social media that he had accessed the IIT-K and IIT Madras websites after being rejected from the undergraduate cybersecurity course, and shared screenshots of the intrusion on X and Reddit, claiming he only wanted to show what he could do.
He claimed in his posts that he had completed the application, paid the fee, uploaded the required documents and submitted proof of his cybersecurity work, but was not shortlisted and was kept out of the hackathon linked to the admission process.
IIT-K Director Manindra Agrawal told PTI that the student was not shortlisted because he did not have prior experience in cyber security.
“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 said.
He added that the student had accessed certain sections of the official websites of IIT-K and IIT Madras.
Agrawal said senior faculty members and engineers have been asked to meet the student and tell him that unauthorised access to computer systems is illegal and should not be repeated.
An IIT-K official, requesting anonymity, said the institute had first considered filing an FIR, but decided to verify the student’s claims and assess his technical abilities before deciding the next step.
