Hackers Are Actually Good People — Product Hunt? Event Recap, Confession and Thanks

Hack Event Summary: The JSON File Hack Incident

Our event, which started on April 23 and was originally planned to last three days, officially ended on April 28 at 00:00. And we can say this experience gave us golden lessons.

The main goal was to test our uniquely developed data storage system, combining ZKP (Zero Knowledge Proof) and steganography. Even if the files are exposed, we claimed that the data would remain unreadable. This was our second event, and no one has cracked the data yet. However… our overconfidence, lack of experience, and haste caused us to miss something.

The file where we stored statistics got HACKED

Transparency is a principle for us. We wanted users to see real-time statistics, and a simple JavaScript file and a JSON file would be enough for that. But it was a last-minute feature, and we didn’t implement any security.

As we announced the event across multiple platforms, interest grew faster than we expected. This brought pressure, especially because participants in this round were far more experienced than the first.

We kept communication open across several channels throughout the event.

BUT…

The next morning, when we checked the stats, everything was gone. The unsecured file had been tampered with, and they even left a note inside:

“now_clean_this_shiet_my_friend”

It took a moment to accept this mistake. But we realized our claim was still valid: the data itself was not compromised. That’s exactly what we meant. You can’t prevent system hacks, but you can protect the data.

So what did we do?

We didn’t erase or fix the file. We embraced it. We even replied:
“We don’t care about your JSON skills; we care about solving the challenge.”

Then what happened?

The next day they left another message, this time quoting the Bible. Seems like they were a bit triggered 😄

We had to replace the file again. But this time, instead of storing stats, we turned it into a message board and left this:

“Stats weren’t for us, they were for potential investors. :/ The challenge is still ongoing. Join in!”

Why do we say hackers are good people?

The day after all the stats were wiped, we saw something new.

Apparently, they didn’t remember (or didn’t bother to redo) the exact values, they manipulated the JSON file to include just a single “click stats” entry. They were offering a peace pipe 😄

It was a kind gesture. Sure, those stats were meaningless. But we appreciated the effort.

At the end of the day, even though we didn’t have the statistics we wanted, we walked away with a great story and an important lesson. For our next event, we’re going to use a JSON file just to chat with hackers 😄 (Also: never underestimate the person on the other side.)

We don’t know how many people joined (because they’re maniacs, it’s literally their job to stay untraceable) — but one participant stood out in particular with their knowledge, questions, and technical insight.

We offered them a short feedback interview. They declined. Still, if they’re reading this: thank you. VOID grew stronger thanks to your attacks — and it will keep growing.

Product Hunt and What It Gave Us:

ProductHunt.com is truly a special platform. It’s not yet turned into a junkyard — it still counters the “dead internet theory,” and it’s a place where you can discover new products, new content, and meet truly exceptional people.

During our launch on Product Hunt, we received support and congratulatory messages from people we never imagined we’d be able to connect with. We’d like to thank them, too.

What did Product Hunt teach us?

Product Hunt taught us that your team and your product can take you only so far — but your network is just as important. It’s a real Wolf Street simulation — if your network is strong, you win. Winning doesn’t just mean being product of the day. We won — people we’d never met, who had been through the same paths, supported us with zero ego. Staying human after success — that’s what made them special. We thank all of them.

The best part of Product Hunt:
You get amazing offers and encouraging messages from people you never expected. Founders of multi-million-dollar startups understand exactly what you’re going through, and they offer you what you really need — support — with zero ego and incredible kindness, expecting nothing in return.

They review your product, talk about it, tell you what works and where you’ll face serious competition. Because they know exactly what you’re feeling — they haven’t lost their developer/entrepreneur spirit. If you’re looking for people who still see you as a person and want to exchange ideas, then launch something on Product Hunt — or support those who do. I guarantee you’ll gain experiences and excitement that are impossible to replicate elsewhere.

Sadly, we ended the day on Product Hunt ranked 31st (we’re not sure, but we think there were around 250–300 products that day). But even that was a win for us. As a team, we knew our weaknesses — we weren’t fully prepared for such a competition, we had no real marketing budget, we were unfamiliar with the platform, and it took us time to figure out how it all works. Also, the products we competed against were seriously impressive.

Product Hunt, by its nature, favors end-user-facing products. Ours, however, is a system-focused solution — for developers, data privacy firms, and Web3 security pioneers. (And we were already deep in a major event during the launch.) That said — yes, we got participants from Product Hunt, and the numbers were definitely not small.

To everyone who supported us during the launch, who sent messages, shared experience, and helped us find direction: Thank you.

In the end: We may have lost our stats. We may not have finished first on Product Hunt. But we still haven’t been hacked. See you in the next hack events. :)

Zeroknowledgeproof.net — Event Web Site
Zeroknowledgeproof.net/nocby — Product
Devdeed — Company
Linkedin