Microsoft and quickly gained recognition for reporting numerous security vulnerabilities. While most teenagers his age spend time on video games or social media, Dylan was uncovering flaws in Microsoft’s software, prompting the company to amend its Bug Bounty Program rules to allow 13-year-olds to participate so he could officially join their community.
His passion for technology started early. Even as a primary school student, Dylan explored the source code of educational platforms, unlocked games on school computers, and bypassed network restrictions during lockdown. Rather than misuse his skills, he chose a responsible path by reporting a major vulnerability in Microsoft Teams that could have allowed someone to take control of any group. This discovery marked his entry into ethical hacking and responsible disclosure, where hackers help companies fix security issues instead of exploiting them.
Since then, Dylan’s accomplishments have continued to grow. He was named to Microsoft’s Security Response Center Most Valuable Researcher list twice, in 2022 and 2024, and in April 2025, he traveled to Redmond, Washington, to compete in Microsoft’s Zero Day Quest hacking event, securing third place. Despite these achievements, Dylan treats cybersecurity as a hobby, balancing it with his studies, family time, and sports. Microsoft notes his interests extend beyond technology to science and civics, with plans to attend security conferences and learn from experts worldwide as he grows older.
