introduction

Name: Mandip Guragai ( known as Lil Mafia )
Profession: Security Researcher and Ethical Hacker

I am not a product of degrees. I am a product of discipline, pain, Linux, and curiosity.

This is my story.

From Kid Curiosity to Cyber Skill

I started my journey in cybersecurity when I was just a kid in 5th class. Everyone around me was talking about becoming a hacker, but I wasn’t just talking I was doing.

In those early days, I read an article about Linux, and that was my first taste of the real hacker world. It wasn’t easy. There were no teachers. No school courses. Just me, my terminal, and Google.

During lockdown in 2020, everything shifted. I found a PDF file on advanced hacking topics car hacking, deepfakes, and more. That file exploded my curiosity.

And slowly… I started to grow.

My First Real Hack

One day, inside my school, I hacked into the CCTV camera system.

Yeah.

I figured out the weak protocol and used brute force to get in.

Of course, they found out, and I got punished. But that moment showed me:

if you understand the system, you can control it.

Into the Bug Bounty World

After that, I dived into web hacking. I hunted on platforms like Bugcrowd, HackerOne,YesweHack, and Immunefi. I started with informational bugs, but eventually…

I got listed 4 times in NASA’s Hall of Fame
I found a DDoS vulnerability in Facebook
I joined critical programs like smart contract bug bounty on Immunefi

In Nepal, even $1,000 is huge. Life-changing.

Smart Contract Hacking

My mentor once said:

Let’s try smart contracts.

I didn’t know what that was. So I researched.

I found it’s a blockchain based system, and I saw the future.

Even though crypto is legally sensitive in Nepal, I kept learning and solving labs. Slowly, I built mastery.

I report critical bugs in smart contracts. My name is known. My skills are ranked. And I’m still growing.

Tools, Tips & Discipline

I don’t use Windows. I use Linux full-time.

Why?

• No distractions
• No viruses
• Full control

Linux taught me discipline. It stopped me from gaming. It kept me focused.

In this world, if you want to be elite, you need pain. Pain makes you focused.

No distractions. Only directories.

A Message for Beginners

If you’re starting:

Learn basic Linux commands
Understand how the internet works
Don’t rely on tools build your brain
Curiosity is your most powerful exploit

You’re already halfway there if you’re reading this.

Final Words

Keep learning. Keep exploring. Let curiosity guide your path. Cybersecurity is a game of patience, discipline, and passion. Thanks for reading.