Number one ethical hacker shares 'super disturbing incident' that led him to fight against criminal activity online
Brits have heard a lot about hackers in the news recently, as cyber criminals have managed to bring the operations of some high street giants to a standstill.
But not everyone in the digital realm with a knack for overcoming complicated computer systems is out for their own gain.
In fact, there's a host of tech wizards who are fighting the good fight online and making the internet a safer place - such as Ryan Montgomery.
He's one of the most well-known ethical hackers in the world, who spends his days finding lapses in security for big firms, protecting people's data and trying to put a stop to child exploitation online.
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Montgomery - who describes himself as a 'serial entrepreneur' and 'child safety warrior' - is always sharing nuggets of knowledge about the dangers of technology and tips on how we can help protect ourselves.
For example, he previously revealed how to protect yourself from hackers, what the dark web is really like to surf and why he once compromised his 'morals' for the sake of a job.
But how did a bloke from Florida end up becoming the bee's knees of ethical hacking?
Incredibly, Montgomery - also known by his hacker handle, 0day - first ventured into the industry when he was just 11-years-old.
He explained that he got an 'adrenaline rush' each time he found a vulnerability to exploit online and five years later, he had began informing website owners of these weaknesses, without expecting a financial reward.
It wasn't exactly legal, but he was one of the good guys at least, and he eventually launched his cybersecurity technology platform, Pentester, in 2021.
Reflecting on how he ended up with his obscure career, Montgomery previously told Caplin News: "I don’t fully remember why I decided to pursue cybersecurity, but the simple answer is the adrenaline rush that it gives me when I find an exploit or bypass a restriction is unmatched by anything else I’ve done in life.
"Most kids were playing games and outside, and I spent most of my time on the computer trying to learn."
Getting into fighting cyber crime was a whole different kettle of fish, though.
Montgomery explained that his venture into this area of hacking came in April 2020, after a 'super disturbing incident' compelled him to use his knowledge for good.
He explained that his friend's wife had got in touch with him as a concerned mother, sending screenshots of a 'terrible website' she had found where online predators shared their sick fantasies about children.
"My friend’s wife sent me the messages because she is a mother herself, and the existence of this website deeply angered her," Montgomery said. "She knew that I was involved in the cybersecurity space and figured I would be the person to 'take the site down'. I didn’t realise they were as vile as they were.
"They engage in these horrific activities without shame or restraint of any kind. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into; it made me sick to my stomach, and I wanted to do something with my knowledge of cybersecurity."
He also reflected on how this situation prompted him to take down online criminals while chatting to Blaze Media last year.
Montgomery added: "I got into the fight against human trafficking and violence against children because of a super disturbing incident.
"The content was so appalling that it instilled a ridiculous level of anger in me, motivating me to take action on this specific website and dedicate myself to protecting others."
He continues to keep up his end of the bargain today, but explains that parents have a pivotal part to play in keeping kids safe online, too.
He reckons the best way to do this is through 'open communication', as he said victims often say they were 'too scared to tell their parents' - usually because they didn't want to 'loose access to their devices'.
Montgomery recommends monitoring your children's internet use, using parental controls, and enforcing online restrictions to ensure youngsters surf the web safely.
Topics: Technology, Crime, Social Media, Parenting
Olivia Burke