Code of Conduct

1. Introduction

HackerHub8 Company LLP ("HackerHub8", "we", "us", "our") is a DPIIT-recognized Startup India entity, registered under MSME and K-Tech Startup Karnataka, and certified under ISO 27001 and ISO 9001. Trust is central to cybersecurity work — whether we're testing a client's network, training a student, or reviewing a CTF submission. This Code of Conduct sets out the standard of ethical, legal, and professional behavior we expect from everyone who engages with HackerHub8.

2. Who This Applies To

This Code applies to:

• Interns, trainees, and freelancers engaged through our internship or hiring programs.
• Participants in our workshops, FDPs, SDPs, bootcamps, and hackathons.
• Registrants and attendees of HackerHub8 events.
• Users of PlayCTF (playctf.in), our cybersecurity skilling and CTF platform.
• Clients, collaborators, and vendors engaged in VAPT, MDR, GRC, or other consulting work.
• Members of our community channels (Discord, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp).

Where a more specific policy exists for a particular audience (e.g., our Community Rules or PlayCTF's own terms), that policy applies alongside this Code.

3. Core Principles

We expect everyone engaging with HackerHub8 to act with:

• Integrity — be honest in your work, claims, and interactions.
• Legality — comply with applicable Indian law, including the Information Technology Act, 2000, and any other laws governing cybersecurity, data protection, and computer systems.
• Authorization — only test, access, or probe systems you own or have explicit written permission to assess.
• Respect — treat staff, mentors, peers, clients, and community members with courtesy and professionalism.
• Accountability — take ownership of your actions and their consequences.

4. Ethical & Legal Use of Skills

The skills taught and practiced through our training, PlayCTF challenges, and consulting engagements are for defensive, educational, and authorized purposes only. You must not use techniques learned through HackerHub8 to access, disrupt, or damage any system, network, or account without explicit, documented authorization from its owner. This applies equally to lab environments, PlayCTF machines, client environments, and any system encountered outside of HackerHub8.

5. Respectful Conduct

Harassment, discrimination, hate speech, intimidation, or abusive behavior toward any person — based on gender, religion, caste, ethnicity, disability, or any other characteristic — will not be tolerated in any HackerHub8 space, online or offline. This includes interactions during workshops, internships, events, PlayCTF discussions, and community channels.

6. Confidentiality & Client Data

If your engagement with HackerHub8 (as an intern, freelancer, or team member) gives you access to client systems, data, or findings — including VAPT reports, MDR alerts, or GRC assessments — you must keep that information confidential, use it only for the agreed scope of work, and never disclose, sell, or reuse it without written authorization.

7. Academic & Certification Integrity

Certificates, project credit, and CTF standings must reflect your own work. Plagiarism, submitting others' work as your own, sharing PlayCTF flags or solutions during an active event, or misrepresenting a HackerHub8 certificate or credential is a serious violation and may result in certificate revocation.

8. Prohibited Conduct

The following are strictly prohibited across all HackerHub8 Services:

• Unauthorized access to, or attacks against, any system, network, or account.
• Distributing malware, phishing content, or exploit code for unlawful purposes.
• Sharing or reselling client-confidential data or findings.
• Cheating, collusion, or flag-sharing during PlayCTF events or assessments.
• Harassment, threats, or abusive behavior toward any individual.
• Impersonating HackerHub8, its staff, or misrepresenting affiliation with us.
• Forging or misusing a HackerHub8 certificate or credential.

9. Reporting a Violation

If you witness or experience a violation of this Code, report it to us using the contact details below. Reports are reviewed confidentially, and we will not retaliate against anyone who reports in good faith.

10. Enforcement

Violations of this Code may result in a warning, removal from an event, workshop, internship, or PlayCTF platform, revocation of certificates, termination of engagement, and — where the conduct is unlawful — referral to law enforcement. The severity of the response will depend on the nature and impact of the violation.

11. Relation to Other Policies

This Code works alongside our other policies, including our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Community Rules. Where a conflict exists for a specific platform (e.g., PlayCTF), the more specific policy governs on that point.

12. Contact & Grievance Officer

To report a violation or ask a question about this Code, contact us:

This Code of Conduct is a general policy template and does not constitute legal advice. For customized agreements (NDA, MSA, VAPT Authorization Letter) consult with a qualified attorney.

HackerHub8 Security Team