Bug Bounty Hunter – The Professional Vulnerability Hunter

A Bug Bounty Hunter is a cybersecurity researcher who finds and reports security flaws in websites, apps, and systems in exchange for cash rewards (bounties) from companies like Google, Facebook, and Uber. 

💰 How Bug Bounties Work  

1. Target Selection – Choose a program (e.g., HackerOne, Bugcrowd).  

2. Recon & Testing – Hunt for vulnerabilities (e.g., SQLi, XSS, RCE).  

3. Submit a Report – Document the bug with PoC (Proof of Concept).  

4. Get Paid – Rewards range from  $50 to $500,000+ per bug.  

🔥 Top Bug Bounty Platforms 

|   Platform    |     Popular Programs  |    Avg. Payout |  

|-------------|---------------------|------------|  

|    HackerOne   | Uber, Twitter, GitHub | $500–$20K |  

|     Bugcrowd    | AWS, Tesla, Cisco | $300–$15K |  

|    Intigriti        | European companies | $200–$10K |  

|    Open Bug Bounty  | Non-profit sites | $0–$1K (mostly recognition) | 

🛠️ Essential Tools for Bug Hunting

|    Category    |     Tools    |  

|-------------|-----------------|  

|    Recon    | Amass, Subfinder, Wayback Machine |  

|   Web Testing    | Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nuclei |  

|     Automation | Hakrawler, Gau, FFUF |  

|   Exploitation   | SQLmap, XSS Hunter, Commix | 

📌 Most Profitable Vulnerabilities

1.   Remote Code Execution (RCE)  ($5K–$100K)  

2.   SQL Injection (SQLi) ($1K–$15K)  

3.   Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) ($500–$10K)  

4.   Business Logic Flaws  ($1K–$50K)  

5.   Authentication Bypass  ($2K–$20K)  

🚀 How to Start?

1. Learn Web Security – Study OWASP Top 10.  

2. Practice on Labs – PortSwigger Web Academy, Hack The Box.  

3. Join a Platform – Sign up on HackerOne/Bugcrowd.  

4. Start Small – Hunt for low-hanging fruit (XSS, IDOR).  

5. Build Reputation – High-quality reports = private invites. 

💡 Pro Tips for Success

✔ Read Program Scopes – Avoid out-of-bound testing.  

✔ Write Clear Reports – Include steps, screenshots, video PoC.  

✔ Stay Ethical – Never exploit without permission.  

✔ Specialize – Focus on   APIs, mobile apps, or cloud. 

📈 Career Path  

- Beginner: Find easy bugs (XSS, CSRF) → $1K–$5K/month.  

- Intermediate: Discover RCE, SSRF → $10K–$50K/month.  

- Advanced: Full-time hunter → $100K+/year. 

Final Thoughts

Bug bounty hunting is lucrative but competitive. Success requires persistence, creativity, and deep security knowledge . Start with free training, then hunt responsibly!  

Want a step-by-step guide to your first bounty? Ask below! 🚀

Vulnerability Assessor – The Proactive Security Specialist

A Vulnerability Assessor is a cybersecurity professional who identifies, classifies, and prioritizes security weaknesses in systems, networks, and applications before attackers exploit them. Unlike penetration testers (who exploit flaws), assessors focus on discovery and risk analysis. 

🔍 Core Responsibilities

1. Vulnerability Scanning  

   - Run automated scans (Nessus, Qualys, OpenVAS).  

   - Identify CVEs, misconfigurations, and outdated software.  

2. Risk Assessment & Prioritization  

   - Rate vulnerabilities using CVSS scores.  

   - Focus on critical risks (e.g., RCE, SQLi).  

3. Compliance Auditing 

   - Check adherence to PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST.  

4. Reporting & Remediation Guidance

   - Provide actionable fixes (patching, hardening). 

🛠️ Key Tools & Technologies

|    Category       |    Tools |  

|--------------------|-----------|  

|  Automated Scanners | Nessus, Qualys, OpenVAS |  

|  Cloud Security    | AWS Inspector, Azure Security Center |  

|  Patch Management  | WSUS, SCCM, Ansible |  

|  Compliance  | Nipper, Prisma Cloud |  

📈 Career Path & Certifications  

Entry-Level (0-2 years)  

- CompTIA Security+ (Fundamentals)  

- Certified Vulnerability Assessor (CVA)  

Mid-Level (2-5 years)

- CEH (Practical)  

- CISSP (Risk management focus)  

Senior-Level (5+ years)  

- CISA (Audit-focused)  

- OSCP (For transitioning to pentesting) 

💻 Skills Required

✔ Tool Mastery (Nessus, Burp Suite for web apps)  

✔ CVSS & Risk Rating (Prioritizing critical flaws)  

✔ Networking & OS Knowledge (Windows/Linux security)  

✔ Compliance Standards (PCI DSS, ISO 27001)  

✔ Scripting Basics (Python/Bash for automation) 

💰 Salary Expectations

- Junior Assessor: $70K–$90K  

- Mid-Level Assessor: $90K–$120K  

- Senior/Lead Assessor: $120K–$150K+ 

🚀 How to Start?

1. Learn Scanning Tools  

   - Install OpenVAS (free Nessus alternative).  

   - Try [Nessus Essentials](https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus/nessus-essentials) (free version).  

2. Practice Labs  

   - [TryHackMe Vulnerability Assessment Room](https://tryhackme.com/room/vulnerabilities101)  

   - [Hack The Box Challenges](https://www.hackthebox.com/) (Start with "Easy" machines).  

3. Get Certified

   - Start with Security+  , then CVA or CEH.  

4. Apply for Roles 

   - Look for Vulnerability Analyst or IT Risk Analyst jobs. 

📌 Vulnerability Assessor vs. Penetration Tester

|     Vulnerability Assessor    |     Penetration Tester   |  

|----------------------------|------------------------|  

| Finds and reports flaws | Exploits flaws for proof |  

| Automated scans + manual review | Manual exploitation |  

| Focus: Compliance, risk scoring | Focus: Attack simulation |  

| Tools: Nessus, Qualys | Tools: Metasploit, Burp Suite | 

📌 Day in the Life

- Morning: Run scans, review results.  

- Afternoon: Validate false positives, assign CVSS scores.  

- Evening: Generate reports for IT teams. 

Final Thoughts

Vulnerability assessors are the "preventive doctors" of cybersecurity—finding weaknesses before they’re exploited. Start with Security+ and Nessus , then move into risk management or pentesting.  

Want a step-by-step guide to Nessus/OpenVAS? Ask below! 🔍