How easy is it to earn from bug bounties? The truth behind ethical hacking rewards
1 min read
Summary
Bug bounties are rewards given to white hat, or ethical, hackers for exposing vulnerabilities in a company’s online platforms.
Many people have been drawn to bug bounties as a way of making easy money, but the reality is far more complicated.
Earnings depend very much on skill level, competition, and the severity of the vulnerability, with beginners earning very little.
Competition is fierce, with thousands of hunters worldwide, and there is no guarantee of pay out.
To improve chances hunters should concentrate on less well-known programmes, master one type of vulnerability and learn as much as possible from publically disclosed reports.
Constant learning and adaptation is needed as bug bounty hunting is a steep learning curve with a high risk of legal challenges.
That said, the potential for high earnings and the enjoyment of the problem-solving involved make it an exciting and lucrative choice for those willing to put the work in.