14 DAY TRIAL // A newly launched website called RankMyHack.com promises to give hackers a place where they can get recognition for their skills by ranking their hacks.
"Submit proof of your website hacks in exchange for Ranking Points that earn you a place on the leaderboard of legends. The bigger the site, the bigger the points," the website admins write.
In essence this is nothing new, hacking for bragging rights being almost as old as the Internet itself, but the new website does it in an organized manner.
And with the number of hacking incidents spiking this year, there is enough data for the Rank My Hack to use.
But the website does more than assign scores to hacks. It also encourages hacking through a bounty system that assigns points to high-profile websites.
Some well known sites have already been compromised and listed on RankMyHack.com. This includes huffingtonpost.com, google.com, amazonaws.com, mozilla.org, and others.
Hackers can also duel each other via the new website. "Use your points to duel with other hackers and protect your legacy in one on one digital combat," the admins write.
A section on Rank My Hack offers hacking resources, such as links to hacking tutorials, tools, and communities. Users can earn points by submitting worthy resources.
According to The New York Times, Rank My Hack is the creation of a UK computer science student who uses the online handle Solar. He claims to have hacked in the past, but never for financial gain or fraud.
Over 1,200 hacks have been submitted for review so far, with a hacker named Mudkip receiving the highest score for compromising huffingtonpost.com.
The website could be of help to cyber criminal gangs and law enforcement agencies alike. Gangs could use it for recruiting new talent, while law enforcement could use it to link hackers to compromises which could serve as basis for further investigation.