Jaipur Guy Wins INR 15 Lakh Bounty From Microsoft! Bonus: 5 Bug Bounty Programs That Are Currently Open

Aditya S, a Jaipur-based security researcher, has won a reward of USD 20,000 (approximately INR 15 lakh) for spotting a bug under Microsoft Azure Bounty Program. The company awards the bounty reward based on the severity, security impact, and report quality.

The Microsoft Azure Bounty Program invites researchers globally to identify vulnerabilities in Azure products and services. The qualified submissions are awarded bounty ranging from USD 500 to USD 60,000.

Check competitions, hackathons, quizzes, and other opportunities here.

He claims to have reported a remote code execution (RCE) bug, which is relatively a new bug that allows an attacker to execute commands on someone else's computing device remotely.

What is Bug Bounty?

As per definition from Oxford Languages, ‘Bounty’ is a sum paid/reward for killing or capturing a person or animal.

Coming to the technical context, let’s understand this in simpler terms. Bug Bounty is a reward for finding an error in a computer program or system.

These days many companies and service providers are running official vulnerability disclosure programs to crowdsource penetration testing. In return, bug hunters are offered prizes for discovering cybersecurity flaws.

As appealing as it sounds, bug bounty hunting requires staying up to date on new bugs. If you really want to get started with bug bounty, your academic background or domain doesn't matter; you can start learning about ethical hacking and the required tools at any point in time. (rather than focussing on just making money)

To help you kick start your journey to bug hunting, here are 5 bug bounty programs you can fix your eyes and mind on!

5 bug bounty programs (with bounty links)

Company	Bug Bounty Range	Bounty Link
Google	USD 100 - USD 31,337	https://www.google.com/about/appsecurity/reward-program/
Facebook	USD 500 - no upper limit	https://www.facebook.com/whitehat/
Dropbox	USD 216 - no upper limit	https://hackerone.com/dropbox
Intel	No lower limit - USD 150,000	https://www.intigriti.com/
Airbnb	USD 150 - USD 15,000	https://hackerone.com/airbnb/

If you wish to hunt bugs skillfully and competently while making a hefty bounty in return, look for free courses and connect with elite researchers.

The easiest and most effective way to learn from seasoned ethical hackers' works is to read disclosed reports on bug bounty platforms like HackerOne.

Here's to crushing big bug bounties!

Suggested reads for aspiring bug bounty hunters:

Shivangi Vatsal

Sr. Associate Content Strategist @Unstop

I am a storyteller by nature. At Unstop, I tell stories ripe with promise and inspiration, and in life, I voice out the stories of our four-legged furry friends. Providing a prospect of a good life filled with equal opportunities to students and our pawsome buddies helps me sleep better at night. And for those rainy evenings, I turn to my colors.