MY JOURNEY TO PROTECTING USERS
From past mistakes to the work of keeping people safe online today
My story, HieuPC — using the lessons I paid dearly for in the past to help people recognize risks, avoid scams, and stay safer online.
Three stages
- Past mistakes
1. Mistakes in my past
I loved computers and programming from a young age, but I let curiosity get ahead of responsibility. Between 2007 and 2013, I illegally collected and traded the personal data of many people. It was the biggest mistake of my life, and it caused real harm to innocent victims.
A costly lesson - The turning point
2. The price I paid, and the turning point
In February 2013 I was arrested in Guam and later sentenced to 13 years in US federal prison. Those years gave me time to reflect and understand the damage I had caused to others. I focused on rehabilitation and on using what I knew about cybersecurity for good.
Facing what I did - Mission today
3. Coming home to protect the community
I was granted early release and returned to Vietnam at the end of 2020. I worked at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), co-founded the non-profit project Chống Lừa Đảo, and founded CyPeace. Today I'm building SHIELD by HieuPC — a community that helps people protect themselves from online scams.
SHIELD by HieuPC
MILESTONES ALONG MY JOURNEY
Select a milestone to see the details.