Bug Bounty: A Complete Beginner's Guide to Ethical Hacking and Earning Online
Admin
3 min read
In the digital world, we use hundreds of apps and websites every day. But did you know that a group of 'ethical hackers' are working behind the scenes to keep these platforms secure? And one of the most popular means of this work is called Bug Bounty.
In today's post, we will get a very clear idea about Bug Bounty.
🔍 What is Bug Bounty?
In simple words, Bug means a software error or security flaw, and Bounty means reward. Big companies (such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple) give an open challenge to protect their systems from hackers. They say - "Find any security loophole or flaw in our system. If you succeed, we will reward you." This whole process is the Bug Bounty Program. And those who find these flaws are called Bug Bounty Hunters or Ethical Hackers.
💻 How does it work? (4 easy steps)
-
Program Selection: Bounty hunters go to different platforms and select the programs of their favorite companies.
-
Bug Testing: Then they try to find vulnerabilities in that company's website or app using various hacking techniques.
-
Submitting a report: If a bug is found, a detailed report on how it was found has to be submitted to the company.
-
Getting rewarded: If the company verifies the report and finds that the bug is really dangerous, they pay the hunter a large amount of bounty (money).
💰 How is it possible to earn money in bug bounty?
There is no specific income limit here. Rewards are given based on the depth or severity of the bug.
Low Risk Bug: $50 to $200 dollars.
Medium Risk Bug: $300 to $1000 dollars.
High/Critical Buwg: Can range from $5,000 to $100,000+ dollars (or more)!
🛠️ What do you need to know to learn?
If you want to enter this sector, you need to learn the following topics step by step:
Networking & OS: How the Internet works and the basic concepts of Linux/Windows.
Web/App Development: Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP/Python (it is easier to catch bugs if you know coding).
OWASP Top 10: Know the top 10 common security flaws of websites in detail.
Tools: Ability to use security tools like Burp Suite, Nmap, Wireshark.
🌐 Some popular Bug Bounty platforms
These tasks have to be done through certain websites instead of directly knocking on a company. For example:
HackerOne
Bugcrowd
Intigritie
YesWeHack
🎯 Last word
Bug Bounty is not an Aladdin's lamp that will make you rich overnight. It requires a lot of patience, curiosity, and a constant learning mindset. However, if you follow the right guidelines, it can be one of the most profitable and prestigious careers of your career.
Are you interested in building a career in cybersecurity? Let us know in the comments! 👇
