Alex Schapiro, a Yale senior, identified a significant vulnerability in the Cerca dating app, which could have exposed user data. Cerca, a startup founded by students, quickly addressed the issue after Schapiro's report, ensuring user security by reducing collected data and hiring external experts. His work highlights the growing role of ethical hackers in protecting startups, especially amid rapid technological advancements and funding in the AI space. Schapiro emphasizes the necessity for startups to prioritize data security, distinguishing genuine user safety from mere marketing claims.
These are real people, and this is real, sensitive data. It's not just going to be part of your pitch deck saying, 'hey, we're secure.'
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