How do I get started with bug bounty hunting? How do I improve my skills?
These are some simple steps that every bug bounty hunter can use to get started and improve their skills:
Learn to make it; then break it!
A major chunk of the hacker's mindset consists of wanting to learn more. In order to really exploit issues and discover further potential vulnerabilities, hackers are encouraged to learn to build what they are targeting. By doing this, there is a greater likelihood that hacker will understand the component being targeted and where most issues appear. For example, when people ask me how to take over a sub-domain, I make sure they understand the Domain Name System (DNS) first and let them set up their own website to play around attempting to "claim" that domain.
Read books. Lots of books.
One way to get better is by reading fellow hunters' and hackers' write-ups. Follow /r/netsec and Twitter for fantastic write-ups ranging from a variety of security-related topics that will not only motivate you but help you improve. For a list of good books to read, please refer to "What books should I read?".
Join discussions and ask questions.
As you may be aware, the information security community is full of interesting discussions ranging from breaches to surveillance, and further. The bug bounty community consists of hunters, security analysts, and platform staff helping one and another get better at what they do. There are two very popular bug bounty forums: Bug Bounty Forum and Bug Bounty World.
Participate in open source projects; learn to code.
Go to https://github.com/explore or https://gitlab.com/explore/projects and pick a project to contribute to. By doing so you will improve your general coding and communication skills. On top of that, read https://learnpythonthehardway.org/ and https://linuxjourney.com/.
Help others. If you can teach it, you have mastered it.
Once you discover something new and believe others would benefit from learning about your discovery, publish a write-up about it. Not only will you help others, you will learn to really master the topic because you can actually explain it properly.
Smile when you get feedback and use it to your advantage.
The bug bounty community is full of people wanting to help others so do not be surprised if someone gives you some constructive feedback about your work. Learn from your mistakes and in doing so use it to your advantage. I have a little physical notebook where I keep track of the little things that I learnt during the day and the feedback that people gave me.
Learn to approach a target.
The first step when approaching a target is always going to be reconnaissance — preliminary gathering of information about the target. If the target is a web application, start by browsing around like a normal user and get to know the website's purpose. Then you can start enumerating endpoints such as sub-domains, ports and web paths.
A woodsman was once asked, "What would you do if you had just five minutes to chop down a tree?" He answered, "I would spend the first two and a half minutes sharpening my axe."
As you progress, you will start to notice patterns and find yourself refining your hunting methodology. You will probably also start automating a lot of the repetitive tasks.
These are some simple steps that every bug bounty hunter can use to get started and improve their skills:
Learn to make it; then break it!
A major chunk of the hacker's mindset consists of wanting to learn more. In order to really exploit issues and discover further potential vulnerabilities, hackers are encouraged to learn to build what they are targeting. By doing this, there is a greater likelihood that hacker will understand the component being targeted and where most issues appear. For example, when people ask me how to take over a sub-domain, I make sure they understand the Domain Name System (DNS) first and let them set up their own website to play around attempting to "claim" that domain.
Read books. Lots of books.
One way to get better is by reading fellow hunters' and hackers' write-ups. Follow /r/netsec and Twitter for fantastic write-ups ranging from a variety of security-related topics that will not only motivate you but help you improve. For a list of good books to read, please refer to "What books should I read?".
Join discussions and ask questions.
As you may be aware, the information security community is full of interesting discussions ranging from breaches to surveillance, and further. The bug bounty community consists of hunters, security analysts, and platform staff helping one and another get better at what they do. There are two very popular bug bounty forums: Bug Bounty Forum and Bug Bounty World.
Participate in open source projects; learn to code.
Go to https://github.com/explore or https://gitlab.com/explore/projects and pick a project to contribute to. By doing so you will improve your general coding and communication skills. On top of that, read https://learnpythonthehardway.org/ and https://linuxjourney.com/.
Help others. If you can teach it, you have mastered it.
Once you discover something new and believe others would benefit from learning about your discovery, publish a write-up about it. Not only will you help others, you will learn to really master the topic because you can actually explain it properly.
Smile when you get feedback and use it to your advantage.
The bug bounty community is full of people wanting to help others so do not be surprised if someone gives you some constructive feedback about your work. Learn from your mistakes and in doing so use it to your advantage. I have a little physical notebook where I keep track of the little things that I learnt during the day and the feedback that people gave me.
Learn to approach a target.
The first step when approaching a target is always going to be reconnaissance — preliminary gathering of information about the target. If the target is a web application, start by browsing around like a normal user and get to know the website's purpose. Then you can start enumerating endpoints such as sub-domains, ports and web paths.
A woodsman was once asked, "What would you do if you had just five minutes to chop down a tree?" He answered, "I would spend the first two and a half minutes sharpening my axe."
As you progress, you will start to notice patterns and find yourself refining your hunting methodology. You will probably also start automating a lot of the repetitive tasks.
More articles
- Pentest Box Tools Download
- Hack Tools For Ubuntu
- Hacking Tools For Windows 7
- Hack And Tools
- Pentest Tools For Android
- Beginner Hacker Tools
- Hacking Tools For Mac
- Game Hacking
- Pentest Tools Url Fuzzer
- Growth Hacker Tools
- Hacker Security Tools
- Hack Website Online Tool
- Pentest Tools For Ubuntu
- Hacking Tools Github
- Hacker Tools Github
- How To Hack
- Hacking Tools For Mac
- Pentest Tools Website Vulnerability
- How To Hack
- Nsa Hacker Tools
- Pentest Tools Android
- Hacker Tools For Ios
- Growth Hacker Tools
- Hacker Tools Windows
- Github Hacking Tools
- Hack App
- Hacker Tools For Ios
- Hacker
- Pentest Tools Windows
- Beginner Hacker Tools
- Hacker
- Computer Hacker
- Physical Pentest Tools
- Pentest Tools List
- Pentest Tools Windows
- Hacker Tools Free
- Pentest Automation Tools
- Pentest Tools Online
- Hacker Tools 2020
- Hacker Tools For Mac
- Hacking Tools For Beginners
- Hack Tools Github
- Hacking Tools Online
- Pentest Reporting Tools
- Hacking Tools 2019
- Pentest Tools
- Hack Tool Apk No Root
- Pentest Tools Kali Linux
- Hacking Tools
- Pentest Tools For Windows
- What Are Hacking Tools
- Hack Tools For Mac
- Hacking Tools For Windows 7
- Hackrf Tools
- Hacker Hardware Tools
- Wifi Hacker Tools For Windows
- Hacking Tools Free Download
- Pentest Automation Tools
- Pentest Tools Windows
- Top Pentest Tools
- Hacker Tools For Ios
- Best Hacking Tools 2020
- Hacking Tools Kit
- Pentest Tools Android
- Hacker Tools Software
- Hack Tools Pc
- Hacker Tools Windows
- Hack Tools Github
- Hacking Tools Online
- Termux Hacking Tools 2019
- Blackhat Hacker Tools
- Pentest Tools Android
- Hacking Tools
- Pentest Tools Website Vulnerability
- Pentest Tools Website Vulnerability
- Hacking Tools Usb
- Hacker
- Pentest Tools Android
- How To Make Hacking Tools
- Pentest Box Tools Download
- Hacker Tools For Windows
- Hack Tools
- Hacker Search Tools
- Hack Rom Tools
- Hacking Tools Usb
- Pentest Tools Find Subdomains
- Pentest Tools Apk
- Pentest Tools Find Subdomains
- Best Hacking Tools 2019
- Top Pentest Tools
- Hack Tools For Windows
- Pentest Tools Free
- Hack Website Online Tool
- Pentest Tools Kali Linux
- Pentest Tools Windows
- Physical Pentest Tools
- Pentest Tools Url Fuzzer
- Install Pentest Tools Ubuntu
- Kik Hack Tools
- Hacker Tool Kit
- Nsa Hack Tools Download
- Hack App
- Hacker Techniques Tools And Incident Handling
- Hacking Tools Mac
- Pentest Tools For Mac
- Hacking App
- Hacker Tool Kit
- Tools For Hacker
- Pentest Tools Website Vulnerability
- Install Pentest Tools Ubuntu
- Hacker Tools Free
- Hack App
- Hacking Tools For Kali Linux
- Game Hacking
- Pentest Tools Alternative
- Hacker Tools Apk Download
- Pentest Tools Linux
- Tools 4 Hack
- Hacking Tools Kit
- Hacking Tools For Kali Linux
- Hack Tools
- How To Make Hacking Tools
- Hacker
- Hack Tools Online
- Hacking Tools Kit
- Hacker Security Tools
- Pentest Tools Download
- Hacker Tools Online
- Physical Pentest Tools
- Hacking Tools Name
- Pentest Tools Port Scanner
- Pentest Tools
- Best Hacking Tools 2019