A vulnerability rewards programme (VRP), commonly referred to as a bug bounty programme, gives rewards to people who find and disclose software problems. These crowdsourcing initiatives are frequently employed by businesses as an addition to penetration tests and internal code audits as part of a vulnerability management plan. Independent security professionals are allowed to submit defects to a corporation under the terms of bug bounty programmes in exchange for incentives or payment.
Bug bounty programmes are used by big businesses like Apple, Android, AOL, Digital Ocean, Goldman Sachs, etc. as a part of their security programme. On their websites, bug bounty providers like HackerOne and Bugcrowd provide a list of all the programmes they provide.
Uses of Big Bounty Programmes :
1. As a result of their ability to reward skilled white-hat hackers and pentesters, bug bounty programmes and platforms have gained popularity.
2. Even if a bug bounty hunter is unsuccessful in locating a vulnerability, they will still have obtained useful experience that they can use in the future when looking for a cybersecurity career.
3. Companies also benefit from bug bounties since they spot security flaws that internal teams might miss.
4. Additionally, software and other digital assets will be more secure the more people who check them out.
Earning money using Big Bounty Programmes :
Finding vulnerabilities in software, websites, and web apps is a paid endeavour known as bug bounty hunting. Major corporations turn to private contractors for assistance since their security teams lack the resources to completely eradicate all of their bugs. In essence, you use your tools to break things, write up a vulnerability report and submit it to the business that offered the bounty, and then you get paid. Some hackers work as side hustlers searching for bugs, earning tens of thousands of dollars annually.