Podcast Inti De Ceukelaire
Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming Inti De Ceukelaire, Head of Hackers at Intigriti, to our Howest podcast.
➡️ Please note: the podcast episode is entirely in Dutch.
Here’s an English summary of some key insights from our conversation with Inti.
The podcast was hosted by Bastien De Meulenaere, Ares Popal and Maxime Vanhoorneweder.
The Role of a “Head of Hackers” and Bug Bounties
Inti explained his role at Intigriti, where he's responsible for building and maintaining Europe’s largest community of ethical hackers — around 150,000 strong.
“Just because you have a community doesn’t mean they enjoy working with you.”
Intigriti focuses on Bug Bounty programs, where companies invite hackers to find vulnerabilities and reward them based on results — not hours worked.
How It All Started
For Inti, it all began with curiosity.
“I was just curious. How does hacking work? It can’t be black magic, right?”
That desire to understand hacking was the starting point of his journey.
More Than Just Technical Skills: The Opportunist
Inti wasn't a hardcore gamer or hardware nerd. Instead, he called himself a “tech opportunist.”
“I just wanted to cheat at games. Tech helped me reach my goals.”
He viewed technology as a tool — not something to obsess over, but something to leverage.
Debunking the Introverted Hacker Myth
When Ares mentioned the stereotypical lone hacker, Inti offered a fresh perspective.
“I can be introverted after big events, but around hackers, I’m energized.”
His background as a youth camp leader helped him develop communication and presentation skills.
“If you want to hack systems made and used by people, you should understand people too.”
The Power of Initiative and Seizing Opportunities
A key theme throughout the episode was self-initiative.
“No one ever became an expert just by going to school and working 9-to-5.”
He urged students to:
- Attend (often free) conferences
- Start personal projects
- Try bug bounties — and embrace failure
“Life rewards the opportunist.”
Making Cybersecurity More Accessible
Through Instagram and TikTok, Inti is reshaping how we talk about cybersecurity.
His shows like “Toverhacks” and the upcoming “Artifhacking Intelligence” present live hacking demos in an entertaining way, helping to break hacker stereotypes.
“I want to make ‘hacker’ the default. Ethical by default. Criminal hackers are a separate category.”
🤖 AI: A New Playground
The rise of AI is a game-changer.
“With this AI wave, everyone is back on a level playing field.”
He’s experimenting with things like applying interrogation techniques to AI — but reminds us:
“AI is a magnifying glass. If you're bad, AI amplifies that. It's pattern recognition — not science fiction.”
Ethics, Legislation, and a “Criminal Record”
Inti shared his own experience with outdated laws around ethical hacking.
“At 19, I reported a vulnerability and got prosecuted.”
That event pushed him to advocate for legal reform, contributing to Belgium’s now-progressive stance on ethical hacking — including programs like “Hack the Government.”
Conclusion: A Call to Action
Inti's message to aspiring cybersecurity professionals is clear:
Be curious. Be an opportunist (in the best sense). Take initiative. And don’t fear unconventional paths.
Cybersecurity is always evolving — and the next opportunity could be yours to grab.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify (in Dutch) for even more insights from Inti De Ceukelaire.