Identifying a critical flaw in an Australian government IT system has earned a British ethical hacker one of the country’s rarest immigration awards. The cybersecurity specialist was granted an invitation-only National Innovation visa 858, reserved for individuals with exceptional global expertise.
Jacob Riggs, 36, the global director of information security at a large SaaS company, discovered the vulnerability while his visa application was under review. During a routine security assessment, he tested a live system operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and uncovered a critical weakness previously unknown to the agency.
Riggs said he followed standard security testing methodologies, examining multiple entry points before identifying the flaw in under two hours. He responsibly disclosed the issue to the department, enabling it to be addressed before potential exploitation.
Following verification, DFAT formally acknowledged the finding and added Riggs to its Vulnerability Disclosure Program honor roll, recognizing his contribution to strengthening government cybersecurity.
The National Innovation 858 visa, formerly known as the Global Talent visa, is awarded to fewer than 1% of applicants worldwide and is typically reserved for individuals with extraordinary achievements, including Nobel Prize laureates and Olympic medalists.
The case comes amid a sharp rise in cyber threats targeting public institutions. According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, more than 84,700 cybercrime reports were filed in the 2024–2025 financial year, with average business losses exceeding $80,000 per incident. Australia has also imposed sanctions on foreign service providers linked to ransomware operations.
Jacob Riggs’ case highlights how ethical hacking and responsible vulnerability disclosure can play a critical role in protecting government systems while being formally recognized as a contribution of national and international importance.
