‘White Hat Hacker’ Uses Cyber Skills to Dismantle Child Predator Network, Bring Sickos to Justice

The Epoch Times Header

They are hooded cyber criminals in dark basements trying to crack your bank account PIN. They are insidious Russians stealing elections from offshore IP addresses. These are typically what we associate with hackers, but Ryan Montgomery, also dubbed 0day, is different. He is what’s called a white hat hacker, or ethical hacker.

The 29-year-old cyber prodigy from Pennsylvania went from causing mischief online to helping authorities dismantle child predator networks. That shift from dark to light was spurred on by a text message he received from a distressed friend in 2020; but his journey into cyberspace began much earlier. Montgomery began hacking almost in the womb: in the days of Napster and AOL, at age 11.

The web landscape looked far different then. You couldn’t just Google it and go from “zero to hero” mastering cyber skills like today. “It was chat rooms and just who you knew,” Montgomery told The Epoch Times. “Asking questions, and not just asking questions but asking the right questions.” It was having the “mindset of a hacker,” he added, “where you want to take something apart and put it back together and make it do something it wasn’t supposed to do.”

Ultimately, hackers look beyond the graphical user interface, or GUI, to figure out how to exploit a system or software. Where your average user sees only the tools displayed on AOL, for instance, hackers spot less obvious things like peer-to-peer connections, presenting IP addresses ripe to be exploited or attacked. Some have hailed Montgomery the world’s number one hacker.

But his heart was good. He would use his tech-savvy skillset to protect businesses by creating his own cybersecurity firm with his partners. Getting a text from said friend in late 2020, a switch flipped in his brain. And with unbridled fervor, he set about clandestinely dogging a depraved network preying on children. The hacker would have justice.

By Michael Wing

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Beijing and Moscow Double Down on Propping Up Tehran, Threaten to Give It Nukes

As anyone who understands how these things unfold could...

The Looming Threat To Our Homeland

After success of “Operation Midnight Hammer,” where U.S. military bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, the threat to America has never been greater.

Groundhog Day came late this year to the Land of Smiles.

it’s the same rigmarole, on whatever pretext, the army commandeers the Thai state with vague promises to restore democracy at some unspecified future date.

Resource number one

Russia has an unsustainable birthrate worsened by mortality rate of Russian males through war and alcoholism. One solution, steal young children from other countries. 

Expansionist CCP Runs Amok in Pacific After U.S. Relocates Naval Assets to Mid-East

Caveat established, China’s been going bananas on the high seas as the eyes of the world, and U.S. military assets, hone in on Iran.

21.8 Million US Seniors Paying for Expenses With Only Social Security Income: Survey

An estimated 21.8 million senior citizens in America make ends meet solely using their social security funds, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said.

Oil Prices Drop by 7 Percent as Market’s Iran Fear Factor Fades

Crude oil prices plummeted by more than 7% as investors were optimistic that Iran’s limited retaliation could lead to a de-escalation in the Middle East.

New York Launches First New Nuclear Energy Project in US in 15 Years

Hochul directed NY’s power authority to begin evaluation of techs, business models, and locations to develop state’s first nuclear power plant in 50 years.

Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Deportations to Third Countries

Supreme Court temporarily lifted lower court order blocking Trump admin from deporting illegals to so-called third countries they have no connection.

Major Victory for Trump Administration and the American People on Deporting Criminal Illegal Aliens to Third Countries

Supreme Court decision allows DHS to deport criminal illegal aliens who are not wanted in their home country to third countries who've agreed to accept them.

No Changes Planned for FDA’s Vaccine Advisory Committee ‘At This Time’: Spokesperson

There are no plans to remove any members of the panel that advises the FDA on vaccines, a spokesperson said on June 20.

Trump Says Trade Deals Expected With India and Pakistan

President Trump expects US will sign trade deals with India and Pakistan, signaling growing momentum in push to reshape global trade through tariff diplomacy.

Trump Says US Intelligence Community’s Assessment of Iran’s Nuclear Program ‘Was Wrong’

President Trump said his director of national intelligence’s assessment in March that Iran had yet to decide on building a nuclear weapon was wrong.
spot_img

Related Articles