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No Laptop, No Lab: How Destawell's Founder Got on Google's Bug Hunters List

Most people assume serious security research needs a laptop, a home lab and expensive tools.

Destawell's founder, Niranj R. Mahaswar (19), does it all from one Android phone, using Termux and Kali NetHunter.

The result

Niranj has now received an Honorable Mention from Google Bug Hunters, on top of his NASA VDP Hall of Fame and a published GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-259w-wmqg-fp76, CVE-2026-86046).

What the phone-only workflow taught us

  • Constraints force focus. With limited tools, you learn to read code and understand the target before you test.
  • Not every report lands. Some get dismissed or ruled out. Each one improves how we triage.
  • Scope first. Read the program rules before you test anything.
  • Reports matter. A clear, reproducible write-up gets taken seriously.

Our focus

Mobile-First Security Research, AI Red Teaming and Open-Source Tooling, all built around responsible disclosure.

For anyone starting out

If all you have is a phone, you can start today. Install Termux, pick a program with a clear scope, and keep going.

Thanks to the Google Bug Hunters team for recognizing independent researchers.

— Team Destawell
Founder: Niranj R. Mahaswar | Co-Founder Brand Strategy: Shifana

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