**Hacker Pranks: The Bug Hunter Who Discovered a Microsoft Flaw**

In the world of cybersecurity, bug hunters play a crucial role in identifying vulnerabilities that could potentially compromise user data. Their work is often behind the scenes, but their contributions are invaluable to vendors and users alike. Recently, we spoke with Khaled Mohamed, a 23-year-old security engineer and active bug bounty hunter who discovered a significant flaw in Microsoft Authenticator.

Mohamed's journey into cybersecurity began in an unconventional way. As a self-proclaimed "script kiddie" at a young age, he was fascinated by breaking things – including his neighbor's Wi-Fi network with a simple script. This curiosity eventually led him to pursue a degree in Computer Science and sparked a passion for web security.

**A Chance Encounter**

When asked if he set out to find a vulnerability in Authenticator, Mohamed revealed that it wasn't a targeted effort. Instead, he stumbled upon something unusual while investigating the app's handling of deep links and sign-in flows on mobile devices. His curiosity was piqued when he noticed how a malicious application could intercept the operating system's prompt to "Open Link" when tapping a sign-in link or scanning a QR code.

**The Flaw Exposed**

Mohamed's investigation uncovered CVE-2026-26123, a flaw that could lead to a full account takeover in a surprisingly simple way. Even with advanced protections like two-factor authentication (2FA) and passwordless sign-in flows, the vulnerability posed a significant threat to Microsoft users. The potential real-world impact was staggering, and it's no wonder Mohamed was surprised by the severity of the issue.

**Lessons from the Bug Hunter**

Mohamed shared valuable insights for aspiring bug hunters and those new to cybersecurity:

* Always think like an attacker and train your mindset to identify potential impacts behind every action. * Technical knowledge is just a tool – use it to achieve the impact you've envisioned. * Test everything yourself, as assumptions about security can be misleading. * Think deeply about how things might still be vulnerable, then work to prove or disprove your assumptions through hands-on testing.

**Common Mistakes in Cybersecurity**

Mohamed also emphasized that one of the most common mistakes made in cybersecurity is underestimating the real threat level. Many organizations believe cyberattacks are rare events or target only large corporations, but the truth is every company can become a target.

**Responsible Disclosure Works**

The conversation concluded with Mohamed's enthusiasm for responsible disclosure and its role in keeping the ecosystem safer over time. By reporting vulnerabilities responsibly, vendors can patch issues before they cause harm to users. If you find a vulnerability, report it – don't sit on it.

We'd like to thank Khaled Mohamed for sharing his story and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

**Protect Your Devices**

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