“A conversation with Shivank on curiosity, hacking culture, and why learning feels better when it’s shared.”
Q. When did your tech journey really begin, and where did the curiosity come from?
It all started with curiosity. Back in the day, cybercafes were the place to be. For ₹10, we could play for an hour, and I used to go regularly to play multiplayer Counter-Strike. All the computers were connected via LAN, and we had a lot of fun. One day, I noticed something strange.A guy who used to play with us would suddenly minimise his screen, open a terminal, type a few commands and boom, all the computers on the network would shut down remotely. Even the cafe owner had no idea how it was happening. For others, it was frustrating. For me, it was fascinating.
I kept asking myself, how is he doing this? What commands is he typing? One day, I finally approached him. He explained that it was a shutdown command, and later I realised he even had the café’s Wi-Fi password, something the owner had never given him. That blew my mind.
I kept asking myself, how is he doing this? What commands is he typing? One day, I finally approached him. He explained that it was a shutdown command, and later I realised he even had the café’s Wi-Fi password, something the owner had never given him. That blew my mind.
His name was Anurag, and he later became my friend. He showed me basic commands, some hacks, and a few tricks. That moment changed everything. From there, I started reading articles, watching YouTube videos, and trying things practically. That curiosity to understand how things work by breaking them never left.
One project I'm especially proud of was a laser surveillance system. Whenever someone crossed the laser beam, I would instantly get notified on my phone with the time, pictures, and videos. I could even stream it live, like something straight out of a spy movie. It wasn't the biggest project technically, but the learning curve was huge. I learned a lot, documented it, and shared the full build on my YouTube channel. That project gave me confidence that I could turn ideas into reality.
I became curious about how Linux is used for hacking, servers, and development. That curiosity naturally translated into content. I don’t think there’s a secret formula to keep people engaged. If someone is curious, they’ll stay. I just share my experiences honestly, what I learned, what confused me, and what finally clicked. That relatability makes heavy topics feel lighter.
I try to stay consistent and curious. My days are usually spent in front of a computer, experimenting with something new, searching for content ideas, reading articles, or learning a new technology. It may sound boring, but for me, that’s where peace exists. I remind myself that progress doesn’t come from constant excitement. It comes from showing up, even on days when nothing feels clear.
I was a taekwondo red belt and a state-level medalist. I'm also a huge movie lover, probably because my father watched a lot of action-packed Hollywood films. Perhaps I'd create content around movies or gaming. Who knows, I still might someday.
Q. Which project made you think, “I actually pulled this off”?
I've built many projects over the years. I was always deeply interested in Android devices, so I created several Android apps: wallpaper apps, tweaking tools, and a meditation app, some of which I published on the Google Play Store. Later, my curiosity moved toward hardware and IoT. I bought a Raspberry Pi 4 and started experimenting. At first, it was just distro hopping. Then I started recreating projects I saw online: motion sensors, personal VPNs, and my own cloud storage.One project I'm especially proud of was a laser surveillance system. Whenever someone crossed the laser beam, I would instantly get notified on my phone with the time, pictures, and videos. I could even stream it live, like something straight out of a spy movie. It wasn't the biggest project technically, but the learning curve was huge. I learned a lot, documented it, and shared the full build on my YouTube channel. That project gave me confidence that I could turn ideas into reality.
Q. You make complex topics like Linux and hacking feel approachable. How do you do that?
Tech people are often labelled as introverted, serious, or boring and maybe I fit that stereotype too. But the truth is, I only teach what I genuinely enjoy learning. When I first discovered Linux, it completely changed my perspective. I realised there was a world beyond Windows and macOS.I became curious about how Linux is used for hacking, servers, and development. That curiosity naturally translated into content. I don’t think there’s a secret formula to keep people engaged. If someone is curious, they’ll stay. I just share my experiences honestly, what I learned, what confused me, and what finally clicked. That relatability makes heavy topics feel lighter.
Q. How do you manage coding, content creation, and life without burning out?
Honestly, it’s hard. There are ups and downs. Some days feel productive, others feel chaotic. What keeps me going is a simple belief: motivation fades, discipline stays.I try to stay consistent and curious. My days are usually spent in front of a computer, experimenting with something new, searching for content ideas, reading articles, or learning a new technology. It may sound boring, but for me, that’s where peace exists. I remind myself that progress doesn’t come from constant excitement. It comes from showing up, even on days when nothing feels clear.
Q. If tech wasn’t your path, what would you be doing today?
I've always been surrounded by computers, so tech feels inevitable. But if it didn't exist, I think my life would still be intense in a different way. I love gaming and still do. I once wanted to join the army and completed NCC up to the B certificate. I'm deeply into sports.I was a taekwondo red belt and a state-level medalist. I'm also a huge movie lover, probably because my father watched a lot of action-packed Hollywood films. Perhaps I'd create content around movies or gaming. Who knows, I still might someday.
Bio
Shivank Yadav is a computer vision engineer, ethical hacking educator, and technology content creator. With a strong foundation in Linux, cybersecurity, Android development, and IoT, he focuses on making advanced technical concepts accessible to beginners. His tech journey began with curiosity and hands-on experimentation, which later evolved into building real-world projects and documenting the learning process for others.
Through Instagram and YouTube, Shivank shares practical insights, project breakdowns, and guidance for aspiring developers and ethical hackers. With Instagram and YouTube, he has built a learning driven community that values curiosity over credentials. His work is driven by one belief: the best way to learn technology is to explore it fearlessly and share what you discover.
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