Amazing! Riau High School Student Hacks NASA’s Security System and Wins Global Recognition
Casal dels Infants – NASA’s highly complex security system was successfully breached by a high school student from Pekanbaru, Riau. Alexsandro Alvino, a 12th-grade student at Metta Maitreya High School, achieved this remarkable feat after discovering a vulnerability in the system of the United States’ space agency. His discovery earned him international recognition and direct appreciation from NASA.
He received the award through his participation in NASA’s Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP), an official initiative that invites ethical hackers to find and report security flaws. “I received a certificate of appreciation from NASA,” Alex said on Tuesday (August 5, 2025).
Initially, Alex participated in cybersecurity programs run by local institutions to gain experience and certifications. Driven by curiosity, he decided to take on challenges from international platforms, including NASA.
After a month of intense exploration, he managed to find three P4-level vulnerabilities in NASA’s security system.
“I spent about a month digging into it, and I finally found something. I’m proud because, based on my research, no other Indonesian has received recognition in this category from NASA,” he said.
Surprisingly, Alex had only been studying cybersecurity for 11 months. With a background in coding and a growing interest in artificial intelligence, he saw cybersecurity as a field where he could apply and expand his skills.
“I chose to dive into cybersecurity so that my coding knowledge wouldn’t go to waste,” he explained. He studied independently, joined online communities, and deepened his understanding of logic and mathematics. He also credits his consistency to his parents’ decision to limit his gaming time. “When I wasn’t allowed to play games, I had to find something else to do, that’s how I got into learning seriously,” he added.
Alex’s success quickly went viral, especially on LinkedIn, attracting attention from various organizations. He is now receiving project offers, including from government agencies, to help detect digital security flaws.
“They ask me to find vulnerabilities. If I find something critical, I get a reward or recognition,” he said.
Despite already earning income through his skills, Alex remains committed to continuing his education. “I know there’s always more to learn, there’s always someone better out there,” he concluded humbly.
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