My First Keynote: A Journey to the Stage at BSides Dehradun

Strong People Lift Others Up:

Strong people don’t put others down—they lift them up, empowering and inspiring those around them to rise together. With this philosophy as my guiding light, I embarked on a new chapter in my career: delivering a keynote speech at BSides Dehradun. It was an opportunity not just to share my knowledge but to encourage others, create connections, and empower the cybersecurity community around me.

Giving Insights to Students.

Keynote: Zero-Click Attacks – Unveiling the Unseen Threats

When I think back to Nullcon 2022, one talk that truly resonated with me was the keynote delivered by Dr.-Ing. Mario Heiderich. It wasn’t just the content that struck a chord, but the way he spoke—his passion, his clarity, and the way he brought complex ideas to life for everyone in the room. That experience stayed with me long after the conference ended, and it became a source of inspiration for my own journey into public speaking.

Fast forward to BSides Dehradun, where I had the opportunity to step onto the stage as a keynote speaker myself. Tapping into that same inspiration, I crafted my talk titled “Zero-Click Attacks Everywhere.” I wanted to shine a light on something that most people overlook—the vulnerabilities hiding in plain sight, right within the communication protocols we rely on every day.

I focused on Wi-Fi SSIDs, Bluetooth, and IoT devices—the silent gateways through which zero-click attacks can occur. These are the attacks that terrify me the most, not because they’re complex, but because they don’t require any action from the user. Imagine it: no clicking on a link, no opening an attachment—just sitting there, connected, and suddenly you’re compromised. It’s the stuff of nightmares, especially in the IoT space where we rely on interconnected devices more than ever.

As I spoke, I could feel the audience connecting with the material. This wasn’t just another technical talk. It was a conversation about real-world dangers that we’re all facing, often without even realizing it. I shared insights into how these attacks target communication protocols, particularly in IoT, and the significant security risks they pose if we don’t address them now.

Microchip Makeover – The Reballing Realm by my IoTSecurity101 Team

While my keynote focused on attack vectors and vulnerabilities, my team delivered a highly technical and hands-on session titled “Microchip Makeover: The Reballing Realm.” by Mohammed Saqeeb Shariff and Kartheek Ekanathan

This talk took the audience into the intricate world of microchip reballing, a critical process for repairing and maintaining hardware systems. Reballing refers to the delicate task of replacing solder balls in a microchip, allowing it to function again or even improve its performance.

My team’s goal was to simplify this seemingly complex process for attendees, offering live demonstrations and step-by-step guides. The response from the participants was incredible, with many eager to explore hardware-level repairs and optimizations. The session was both informative and empowering, leaving many in the audience with newfound skills and confidence to tackle hardware issues on their own.

Workshop by Sunita Sharma: Android Hacking

One of the most memorable moments at BSides Dehradun was when my close friend, Sunita Sharma, delivered an outstanding workshop on Android Hacking. Her session provided a deep dive into vulnerabilities within the Android ecosystem, showcasing practical exploits and hacking techniques. She guided participants through various tools and methodologies to understand, analyze, and secure Android devices from potential threats.

Sunita’s workshop was hands-on, engaging, and eye-opening, leaving the participants with a wealth of knowledge on securing mobile platforms. Her ability to simplify complex concepts and encourage active participation embodied the spirit of BSides, fostering learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Reflection: A Community Effort

Being a part of BSides Dehradun as a keynote speaker was not only a personal milestone but also a community-driven effort. I am incredibly grateful for my team, who made the experience complete with their deep dive into hardware, and for Sunita, whose passion for teaching shone through her Android Hacking workshop.

This experience wasn’t just about delivering talks—it was about creating a platform for others to grow, learn, and share their own expertise. In the spirit of lifting others up, I left BSides Dehradun with a renewed sense of purpose, energized by the amazing people I had the opportunity to connect with and the collective knowledge we contributed to the community.