Childhood: Exploring the Toy Wonderland
Once upon a time, when I was just a small kid, I started to fall in love with cool gadgets and creative stuff. My dad gave me a lot of toys like – a remote-controlled car, video games, and puzzles. It was like magic! I played with it for a few days, having a blast. But then, my curious brain kicked in, and I wanted to know how it worked.
So, I did something brave—I took it apart. It was like peeking behind the curtain of a magic show. I looked at the motors, magnets, and tiny computer parts. Even though I struggled a bit to put it back together perfectly, I learned so much. I started doing experiments with the parts, like a mini scientist.
Teenage: The Computer Adventure Begins
As I grew older, something even more fascinating caught my eye—computers! I saw a friend’s big brother playing cool games on his computer, and I was hooked. Later on, My dad’s friend’s sons had a computer with the internet! That was like having a ticket to a whole new world.
After a bit of convincing, my dad got me a computer too. It was second-hand, but I was over the moon. But, oh boy, that computer had a mind of its own. Sometimes it wouldn’t start, the monitor wouldn’t work, or the mouse got stuck. So, at just 13 years old, without the internet to guide me, I became a computer detective.
I checked all the parts—cables, RAM, hard disks, and more. It was like solving a mystery. A year later, the internet came back, and by the time I was 16, I could do all sorts of cool things on the computer, like changing its operating system and fighting off computer viruses, fully disassembling and reassembling my desktop. That’s when my real journey into the world of computers began.
Adulthood: My Tech Odyssey Unfolds
As I stepped into the world of technology, I chose to pursue a Bachelor’s in Technology (B.Tech). The classrooms were filled with knowledge, but my hunger for learning extended beyond. Back home, I delved into HTML, C language, Python, and JavaScript. Even before that, I ran a tech YouTube channel, sharing what I knew about computers.
Childhood experiences of battling viruses and solving tech puzzles ignited my interest in cybersecurity. From hacking computers, mobiles, to even servers, I dived into bug bounties – a journey that transformed me into a cybersecurity enthusiast.
Imagine this: safeguarding organizations, constantly learning about different vulnerabilities, technologies, languages, and tools. It felt like being a digital superhero, with rewards pouring in the form of bounties.
But the adventure didn’t halt there. Campus placements led me to become a Cloud Security Engineer in a big company. Learning about cloud security became my new quest. Yet, the journey persisted.
Driven by an insatiable curiosity, I decided to pursue a Master’s in the USA, specializing in cybersecurity. Landing in the USA brought a wave of new experiences – gaining industry certifications, participating in Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges for the thrill, and engaging in various tech activities.
-Prakash Nadakuditi
