Rejected Student Hacks IIT Kanpur Website, Offered Second Chance by Director

A student who was turned away from the new BTech cybersecurity program at IIT Kanpur resorted to hacking the institute's website as a form of protest. The student left a message on the site stating, "Site is Hacked, All I Need is Just a Fair Chance," which raised significant concern among the administration and faculty. Initially, the institute considered filing a First Information Report (FIR) due to the unauthorized access, but the director, Professor Manindra Agrawal, opted for a more constructive approach by offering the student a chance to demonstrate his skills instead.

In addition to breaching IIT Kanpur's website, the student also accessed parts of IIT Madras's online platform and shared evidence of his actions on social media platforms like X and Reddit. He clarified that his intention was not to inflict damage but rather to highlight his technical prowess. The student claimed that he had completed all necessary paperwork and paid the required fees for the BTech cybersecurity program, yet he was not selected to participate in the hackathon, a crucial part of the admission process. Professor Agrawal explained that the student's lack of prior experience in cybersecurity was the reason for his non-selection, and he emphasized that the admission process for this academic year had already been finalized.