What is a bug bounty program?

A bug bounty program invites outside security experts - known as ethical hackers - to search for vulnerabilities in IT systems. These security researchers are rewarded with cash or other recognition for the vulnerabilities they find. The goal is to identify and fix vulnerabilities before cybercriminals can exploit them. Vulnerabilities that rely on social engineering techniques such as phishing are typically excluded from a bug bounty program.

Compared to traditional pentests or automated vulnerability scanners, bug bounty programs offer the advantage of continuous testing by a large number of experts. While automated tools systematically look for known vulnerabilities, ethical hackers use their expertise to find unpredictable and hard-to-find vulnerabilities that might otherwise be missed by automated testing. Hunting for bugs requires a thorough analysis of the target organization's technology landscape-not just the use of automated tools.

How do bug bounty platforms work?

Bug bounty platforms bring companies and ethical hackers together and provide a structured framework for reporting and fixing vulnerabilities. Many organizations, including technology vendors and government agencies, use bug bounty programs as part of their overall security strategy to continually test their systems for vulnerabilities.

Bug bounty in Switzerland

While bug bounty programs have long been established in the US, they are also gaining importance in the DACH region. Swiss companies such as Raiffeisenbank, Threema, Swissbanker and SWICA are already relying on the expertise of the hacker community.

Danilo Bargen, CTO von Threema, says, “Our bug bounty program is an important part of our security strategy. By continuously adapting the scope to new Threema products and services, we can proactively respond to evolving threats and constantly improve the security of our platform.” Threema offers rewards of up to CHF 10,000 for reported vulnerabilities.

Not just for corporate giants

Bug bounty programs can benefit smaller companies as well. They don't have to offer huge rewards - prizes as low as CHF 250 can be enough to encourage the discovery of relevant vulnerabilities. One example is the news portal Republik, which relies on the support of its readers and conducts regular security audits to ensure user confidence and to address potential vulnerabilities early on.

Success factors for a bug bounty program

To ensure the success of a bug bounty program, it is crucial to define the exact scope of the program and establish clear rules. GObugfree supports companies from the outset: in an onboarding meeting, we define the framework together – which systems may be tested and which areas remain off-limits?

GObugfree acts as an interface between your company and the ethical hackers. We maintain a close relationship with the hacker community, know their skills and manage communication. Our triage management ensures that duplicate reports are removed, the repeatability of vulnerabilities is checked and their criticality is assessed. Only relevant, well-verified security vulnerabilities are passed on to you – including specific recommendations for remediation.

Together against new threats

Bug bounty programs offer companies of all sizes a valuable opportunity to continuously improve their security measures. By relying on the skills of external experts, companies gain valuable insights into their vulnerabilities and can effectively protect themselves against new threats. In a dynamic and constantly changing cyber landscape, bug bounty programs help to strengthen system resilience and prepare companies well for future attacks.