Bug bounty hunting is a practice where ethical hackers (often called "bug bounty hunters") identify…

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Real-World Example: Facebook’s Bug Bounty Program

Background: Facebook runs a bug bounty program to ensure the security of its platform and protect user data.

A bug bounty hunter, Alice, notices suspicious behavior when using Facebook Messenger. She suspects there might be a way for attackers to intercept messages.

Alice carefully examines the web app's API and discovers that the messaging system doesn’t properly validate user permissions.

Using a controlled test environment, she demonstrates that it’s possible to send a malicious API request to view someone else’s messages without proper authorization.

Alice submits a detailed report through Facebook's bug bounty platform, including:

A clear explanation of the vulnerability.

Steps to reproduce the issue.

Evidence, such as screenshots or videos.

Suggestions for fixing the bug.

Facebook’s security team validates her findings.

The vulnerability is patched to prevent exploitation.

Alice receives a monetary reward of $15,000 (hypothetical) for her discovery.

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Key Elements in Bug Bounty Hunting:

1. Knowledge & Tools:

Familiarity with programming, networking, and cybersecurity concepts.

Tools like Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, or custom scripts to analyze systems.

Follow the program’s rules, such as only testing systems that are explicitly authorized for the bounty.

3. Persistence:

Many hunters test multiple systems and spend hours researching before finding a valid bug.

Programs like HackerOne, Bugcrowd, and Synack connect organizations with bug bounty hunters.

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Practical Tips for Beginners:

Choose programs with beginner-friendly scopes.

Look for low-hanging fruits like misconfigured headers or insecure input validation.

Study common vulnerabilities (e.g., OWASP Top Ten).

Practice on platforms like Hack The Box, TryHackMe, or CTF challenges.

Submit detailed, reproducible reports.

Be respectful and professional in communications.
Bug bounty hunting is an excellent way to improve your skills, contribute to cybersecurity, and potentially earn rewards!