Schneier’s Law In Bug Bounty

What does the principle named after American cryptographer Bruce Schneier tell us about bug bounty hunting?

“Any person can invent a security system so clever that he or she can’t think of how to break it.” — Schneier’s Law

What do top tech companies like Google, Facebook, Tesla, Apple, and Meta (to name just a few) all have in common, from a security standpoint? They all have bug bounty programs in place.

But why? These companies undoubtedly have top talent across their security teams, yet vulnerabilities continue to be reported, despite the presence of this talent and extensive penetration tests.

Where do we see Schneier’s Law at play? In World War II, the Enigma machine, used by the Germans for secure communication, was believed to be unbreakable. However, it was eventually decrypted by Allied cryptanalysts, highlighting that the designers’ understanding of its security was limited. Imagine if they had a bug bounty program… (this is a joke, of course).

Bug bounty programs and hunters are valuable precisely because they counter Schneier’s Law. These programs allow hunters to bring their unique perspectives, ones that the internal security team may lack.

Every hunter has something different to offer and new expectations to challenge. To every bug bounty hunter considering giving up: remember, your unique view of the world is your competitive edge in this challenging, yet rewarding, field.

Happy hacking, happy pockets ❤