Khaberni - British resident in Bexley, London, Jacob Riggs, received one of the rarest Australian visas usually awarded to Nobel laureates and Olympians after he identified a vulnerability in the Australian government’s electronic system.
Riggs, who is 36 years old, said he specializes in ethical hacking and focused his efforts on the 858 National Visa for Permanent Innovation, which has an acceptance rate of less than 1% of applicants.
In just a few hours from his home, he was able to pinpoint a vulnerability that the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade considered an important step, and praised him for his technical skills and commitment to protecting the country's digital infrastructure, according to the British "Metro" newspaper.
Following the discovery of the vulnerability, Riggs was granted full residency in Australia, and he is now preparing to move to Sydney to work in cybersecurity, currently holding the position of Global Director for Information Security at one of the major software companies.
About this he said, "I did not treat the matter as just part of my visa application, but I repeated the security assessment methodology I use in my professional work."
This development comes amid rising cyber threats against Australia, where government agencies face ongoing attacks, while private institutions face increasing pressure to protect sensitive data.
Recent reports indicate that authorities have responded to more than 1200 cyber incidents this year, an increase of 11% compared to 2023-2024.
Vice Prime Minister, Richard Marles said: "The report clearly shows that the country is facing increased threats from espionage and cybercrime, and these are not just virtual risks but a real danger that affects the essential services we all rely on."
