Hackers emerge from the most unexpected places. Sometimes, even tattoo parlors. Meet Andrew, aka Ninjeeter. A former Electronic Warfare Specialist in the military turned tattoo artist who has found his calling as a hacker.
A surprising career shift
Andrew’s path to hacking is anything but conventional. After serving as an Electronic Warfare Specialist in the military, he traded electromagnetic signals for ink, running his own tattoo studio for six years. “My legs are covered in amateur, objectively bad artwork – the work of loved ones that I have let tattoo me,” Andrew chuckles. “They are trash, but they are my trash.”
However, a chance encounter with Jack Rhysider’s Darknet Diaries podcast in June 2023 ignited a new interest. “I was hooked and listened to all available episodes within a couple of months,” Andrew recalls. This led him to the Critical Thinking Bug Bounty podcast hosted by Justin Gardner and Joel Margolis, marking the beginning of his hacking journey.
From novice to educator
Despite having no background in computer science, programming, or cybersecurity, Andrew dove headfirst into this new world. His transition saw surprising parallels between his past and present. “At a high-level, electronic warfare and hacking are similar. Transmitting and receiving data in order to circumvent or deceive systems,” he explains.
Andrew’s approach to hacking is as unique as his background. When asked about his specialty, he humbly admits, “I am too new to claim a specialty.” However, he chose to focus on manual testing rather than automated recon. “I believe the years I spent tattooing have made me hyper detail-oriented, which has proven to be valuable on targets,” he reflects.
The write stuff
Andrew’s journey took another unexpected turn when he began writing hacker content full-time. “In exchange for Justin’s mentorship, I have been writing documentation for the Caido team,” he shares. This opportunity led to a position with HackerContent, allowing Andrew to make a living while educating himself.
“I love it,” Andrew enthuses. “I am able to make a living off of educating myself, and I believe this will accelerate me toward my end goal of bug hunting full-time.”
Andrew on the value of mentorship, “If you are seeking a mentor, make sure you bring something to the table as well. The relationship should be symbiotic as they are giving you the keys to a new career. Position yourself so you stand out. It’s going to be a lot of work on your end, but gaining an educator and friendship is worth it. Don’t beg. Pitch yourself as a good investment.”
The road ahead
Like any newcomer, Andrew faces challenges. “A major challenge I struggle with is avoiding getting stuck in the tutorial and educational ‘blackholes’,” he admits. However, he’s learning to overcome this by heeding the advice of veteran security researchers: “Just get out there and hunt.”
When asked about his favorite tools, Andrew’s response is simple: “Google search and a target’s official documentation are invaluable.”
Andrew’s passion for hacking is relentless. “Currently, I am waking up early and going to bed late to take advantage of the excitement,” he says. He admits that, “With tattooing, growing your skills is limited to the availability of clients. With cybersecurity, I can continuously learn as long as the electricity and internet bills are paid. I know eventually I will need to slow down the current rate I am operating at, but for now I can’t get enough of it.”
Looking ahead, Andrew aims to improve his time management skills and report more vulnerabilities. His journey from military service to tattooing to hacking serves as an inspiration to aspiring hackers everywhere, proving that with passion and dedication, you can successfully pivot into the world of cybersecurity.
Keep an eye out for Andrew – he’s just getting started.
