Hackers
4 Humanity
One Certified Tester.
One Funded Future.
For every tester who passes, EC-Council donates US$1,000 in cybersecurity training.
EC-Council, the world's largest cybersecurity certification body, is calling on 100 elite pen testers to give back. Take the C|PENT (Certified Penetration Testing Professional) challenge at zero cost. Every challenger who passes fuels scholarships for underprivileged learners.
100 Elite
Pen Testers.
In an era where AI is reshaping cybersecurity, the need for skilled human pen testers has never been greater. Machines can scan for vulnerabilities, but only human instinct, creativity, and ethical judgment can truly outsmart an attacker. We're calling on the world's best penetration testing professionals to step forward, prove their expertise in a gruelling 24-hour real-world challenge, and earn their place among the elite. This isn't just a certification. It's a human story.
For every tester who passes, EC-Council donates US$1,000 in cybersecurity training.
A Self-Sustaining Pipeline.
Hackers4Humanity is building a cycle where testing excellence directly funds the next generation of cyber defenders. The best pen testers in the world prove their skills, and every certification fuels scholarships for those who couldn't afford one.
The Process.
4 steps. 24 hours. 1 future changed.
NOMINATE
Self-nominate or nominate a fellow pen tester through the online form.
COMPETE
Take the fully sponsored 24-hour C|PENTAI (Certified Penetration Testing Professional) exam by EC-Council.
CERTIFY
Score 70%+ to earn C|PENTAI certification. Score 90%+ and be named one of the 100 Great Pen Testers.
DONATE THE FUTURE
Every pass triggers a US$1,000 cybersecurity scholarship for an underprivileged learner.
1 Tester → 1 Certification → 1 Scholarship → 1 Future
Hackers 4 Humanity
One Pen Test. One Future Changed.
The Hackers 4 Humanity program goal is to bring cybersecurity training to underprivileged individuals around the world via hacking challenges. In our first iteration, we are inviting skilled penetration testers from around the world to take on the Certified Penetration Testing Professional (CPENT) exam. Participants are not asked to donate money. Instead, they donate time and skill by completing a fully sponsored CPENT exam. (All expenses covered) For every professional who passes the exam, EC-Council commits to donating $1,000 USD worth of cybersecurity training and certification to individuals deemed eligible through vetted non-profit partners.
Program Goal
The goal is to award 1,000 scholarships of $1,000, culminating in a public celebration at EC-Council’s flagship Hacker Halted conference in late 2026. The event will recognize the 1,000 Great Pen Testers, showcase the stories of scholarship recipients, and demonstrate how technical excellence can fuel social change.
How it works
Organizations can earn scholarship money by nominating pen-testers to attempt the CPENT exam. For every nominated pen-tester who earns the CPENT certification, EC-Council will donate $1,000 in training credits to your organization. Your organization can award these credits as you see fit, helping someone new to cybersecurity get their start or give someone already in the industry a hand up in a time of need.
Nominations for pen-testers can be submitted here: https://www.eccouncil.org/hackers4humanity/. EC-Council will supply your organization with a personalized UTM link that will track the pen-testers you nominate back to you. The nomination requires basic contact information, professional background (e.g., LinkedIn, GitHub, Hack The Box handle, etc.), a short motivation statement, and consent to the program rules.
Compete
Participating pen-testers are provided with a voucher for a single attempt at the CPENT exam. The 24-hour exam is delivered in a proctored environment to preserve integrity and can be taken in one block or two 12-hour sessions. No retakes are permitted under this campaign.
Certify & Donate
Candidates who score at or above the CPENT passing threshold are awarded the CPENT certification and enter the Hackers 4 Humanity Hall of Fame. For each CPENT certification earned, EC-Council will donate $1,000 in training credits to your organization to deliver cybersecurity education to underprivileged individuals of your choosing. Documentation of the scholarship recipient and training outcome is required. If an organization’s chosen pen tester candidate fails the CPENT exam, EC-Council will donate $250, rather than $1000.
Organizations must submit a list of scholarship recipients, including name, email, company (if applicable), title (if applicable), years of IT/cyber experience, and which training program(s) to apply the funds to. Unused credits expire 12 months after issuance and revert to the donation pool.
A summary of scholarship distribution and impact will be published on the program page quarterly, protecting personal data while highlighting geographic reach and success stories.
The World
Needs
Pen Testers. Now More
Than Ever.
AI-Powered Attacks Are Evolving Faster Than Defenses
Adversaries now leverage large language models to generate polymorphic malware, craft hyper-personalized phishing campaigns, and automate vulnerability discovery at machine speed. Traditional signature-based defenses can't keep up. The only reliable counter? Human testers who think like attackers.
Attack Surfaces Have Exploded
Cloud-native infrastructure, IoT devices, APIs, supply chain dependencies, and AI/ML pipelines have created an attack surface that dwarfs anything from a decade ago. Every new integration is a potential entry point. Organizations need skilled penetration testers to find the gaps before adversaries do.
The Cybersecurity Skills Gap Is Widening
Today, 3.5 million cybersecurity roles remain unfilled globally. Offensive security specialists are the hardest to recruit. Without investment in the next generation of ethical hackers, organizations and governments alike remain critically exposed.
This Is Where EC-Council Steps In
Hackers4Humanity is more than a challenge — it's a movement to protect what AI alone cannot. By sponsoring 100 elite pen testers through C|PENTAI, EC-Council is proving that the future of cybersecurity still runs on human instinct, ethical judgment, and the kind of creative thinking no algorithm can replicate. Every tester who passes funds a scholarship for an underprivileged learner, building a pipeline where today's best defenders create tomorrow's.
What You'll Face.
The C|PENTAI AI exam is 100% practical. Choose two 12-hour sessions or a single 24-hour challenge across live enterprise networks. Four phases that separate the elite from the rest.
Reconnaissance.
Every engagement starts with enumeration. Map the attack surface, identify open services, and discover hidden entry points across the target network.
The World's
Most
Advanced Pen Test.
The Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENTAI) is the world's most comprehensive guided penetration testing program. Master AI-driven pentesting with proven methodologies across enterprise networks, IoT systems, Active Directory, and advanced defenses. 110+ labs, 50+ tools, live cyber ranges, and CTF challenges.
100% Practical Exam
No multiple choice. Choose two 12-hour sessions or a single 24-hour exam across live enterprise networks. Score 70%+ to certify. Score 90%+ to earn the Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) designation.
AI-Powered Pentesting
AI techniques integrated into every phase: reconnaissance, exploitation, privilege escalation, and reporting. Up to 40% more efficiency in cyber defense and 90% accuracy in threat detection.
Complete Methodology
The only program teaching end-to-end pentesting: scoping, engagement planning, OSINT, social engineering, web/API security, network exploitation, Active Directory, IoT/OT/SCADA, and professional reporting.
Real-World Attack Scenarios
From double pivoting and binary exploitation to Active Directory attacks, cloud vectors, and writing custom exploits. Live practice ranges continuously updated with new targets and defenses.
Exploitation.
Leverage discovered vulnerabilities to gain initial access. Chain exploits, establish persistence, and pivot deeper into the target infrastructure.
Privilege Escalation.
Escalate from low-privilege shells to full root access. Identify misconfigurations, SUID binaries, and kernel exploits to own the system completely.
Reporting.
Document every finding with precision. Generate professional reports that communicate risk, impact, and remediation. The final step that separates operators from amateurs.
Faces of
the
Challenge.
Real people. Real skills. Real impact on the next generation of cyber defenders.
Challenge accepted — and crushed.
"Best 24 hours of my career."
The moment you know you passed.
"Pure adrenaline, pure purpose."
One team, one mission — Hackers4Humanity.
"Together we funded 12 scholarships."
What You
Get.
Fully Sponsored Exam
Full exam voucher + iLabs access = EC-Council covers everything.
24-Hour Challenge
Network exploitation, pivoting, privilege escalation, and reporting.
Hall of Fame
Score 90%+ and be named one of the 100 Great Pen Testers of 2026.
HackerHalted Stage
Recognized on stage at EC-Council's flagship conference, live-streamed globally.
$1,000 Donation
Each pass directly funds cybersecurity training for an underprivileged learner.
Legacy Impact
World-class certification and a legacy beyond technical achievement.
One Certified
Tester.
One Funded Future.
For every successful C|PENTAI pass, EC-Council donates US$1,000 in cybersecurity training credits to nonprofit partners.
WHO BENEFITS
- Nonprofits advancing cybersecurity education in underserved communities
- Students from low-income backgrounds seeking career opportunities
- Communities lacking cybersecurity resources
WHAT THEY RECEIVE
- EC-Council courses
- Lab access
- Certification opportunities
- Career pathways into cybersecurity
1 certified tester 1 funded future
HACKERS4HUMANITY →Partners.
CyberPeace Foundation
NGO Partner
NPower
Training Partner
WiCyS Foundation
Diversity Partner
EC-Council Foundation
Education Partner
FAQ.
Hackers4Humanity is EC-Council's initiative challenging 100 elite pen testers to complete the fully sponsored C|PENTAI (Certified Penetration Testing Professional) certification. For every pass, EC-Council donates US$1,000 in cybersecurity training credits to NGO partners. Even a failure triggers a US$250 donation.
Choose your format: two 12-hour sessions or a single 24-hour exam. It's 100% practical, proctored, and delivered remotely across live enterprise networks. You must submit a penetration testing report within seven days.
Zero. EC-Council covers the full exam voucher and iLabs access. You donate your skill, not your money.
Any active pen testing professional with verifiable experience, or those holding CEH or equivalent certification with at least two years in information security. Candidates must not be currently C|PENTAI certified.
You earn the C|PENTAI (Certified Penetration Testing Professional) credential by EC-Council. Score 90%+ and you also earn the Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) designation and get inducted into the Hall of Fame for good. All 100 testers will be recognized on stage at HackerHalted 2026.
No retakes under this campaign, but EC-Council still donates US$250 in training credits. Your participation contributes to the mission.
May 1st, through October 2nd 2026.
Still have questions? Apply and we'll be in touch.
BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER →
Register.
Step forward or nominate a peer. Complete the form to enter the Hackers4Humanity challenge.
// LEGAL
Terms & Conditions
By participating in Hackers4Humanity, you agree to EC-Council's program terms covering eligibility, exam conduct, data privacy, and scholarship commitments.
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