Bug Bounty is a Long Game
Bug bounty is a marathon, not a sprint — fall in love with the process, not just the payout.
- It’s not fast cash or a YOLO game — it’s gold mining, not gambling.
- Most of the easy bugs and “virgin ground” are already gone.
- To find value, think beyond compliance checklists or standard pentest playbooks.
- Revisit old scope archives, dig through change logs, observe release patterns.
- Creative fuzzing > scripted scans. Your brain is your edge.
It’s a Mental Game
This journey is not for everyone. It demands:
- Passion
- Freedom to explore
- An eye for detail
- Comfort with uncertainty
The best bugs aren’t always obvious. Over time, you develop an instinct for weak spots — like reading terrain as a tracker.
Professionalism Wins
On the other side of your report is a human or a team. Even if triage is automated:
- Your tone and clarity matter.
- A well-written report needs no follow-up. That’s your brand.
- Use CVSS properly, explain the context, and walk them through impact.
- Don’t take rejections or downgrades personally — report, then move on.
The Right Mindset
- Hack to learn. Don’t just learn to hack.
- Make it your profitable hobby, not a side hustle of pressure.
- Stay curious, stay consistent.
- The rewards? Knowledge, skills, sometimes cash — and growth as a hacker.
Remember: The process is the reward.