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.
Related links
- Hack Tools For Pc
- Hack Tools For Windows
- Hack App
- Black Hat Hacker Tools
- Hacker Security Tools
- Nsa Hack Tools Download
- Hacker Tools 2020
- Hacking Tools Name
- Hacking Tools For Beginners
- Hacking Tools For Mac
- Pentest Tools Subdomain
- Hacking Tools For Windows
- Blackhat Hacker Tools
- Tools Used For Hacking
- Usb Pentest Tools
- Hacker Tools Software
- Pentest Tools Kali Linux
- Hacking Tools Online
- Pentest Tools Android
- Pentest Tools Nmap
- Hack Tools 2019
- Hacker Security Tools
- Hacker Tools 2020
- Hacker Tools Apk Download
- Pentest Tools Linux
- Hack Tool Apk No Root
- Black Hat Hacker Tools
- Hacker Tools For Mac
- Hacking Tools Mac
- Hacker Tools
- Hacking Tools Windows 10
- Hacking Tools And Software
- Hack And Tools
- Termux Hacking Tools 2019
- Hacker Tools Free Download
- Hacker Tools Linux
- Hacker Tools Online
- Hacker Tools 2019
- Pentest Tools Website
- Pentest Tools Kali Linux
- Hack Tool Apk
- Hacker Tools Hardware
- Nsa Hacker Tools
- Best Hacking Tools 2019
- Hacker Tools Apk
- Pentest Automation Tools
- Hacking Tools And Software
- Hacker Tools For Mac
- Hacker Techniques Tools And Incident Handling
- Hacker Tools Apk
- Hacking Tools Windows 10
- How To Install Pentest Tools In Ubuntu
- Hacking Tools For Windows Free Download
- Hacking Apps
- Hacking Tools For Pc
- Pentest Tools Website
- Hacking Tools Online
- Pentest Tools For Android
- Pentest Tools Framework
- Hack Tools 2019
- Pentest Tools Download
- Hacking Tools For Mac
- Hacking Tools Kit
- Tools 4 Hack
- Ethical Hacker Tools
- Hacker Tools Free
- Hacking Tools Free Download
- Hack Tools 2019
- Android Hack Tools Github
- Usb Pentest Tools
- Kik Hack Tools
- Pentest Tools Github
- Hacker Search Tools
- Hacker Tools Mac
- Hacker Tool Kit
- Install Pentest Tools Ubuntu
- Easy Hack Tools
- Hacker Tools
- Hacking Tools Name
- Hacker Tools 2019
- Pentest Tools Nmap
- Pentest Tools Url Fuzzer
- Hacking Tools
- Hacking Tools For Kali Linux
- Hack Tools For Mac
- Pentest Tools Github
- Hacking Tools Github
- Hackers Toolbox
- Hacker Tools Apk Download
- Hacker Tools For Windows
- Pentest Tools Review
- Hak5 Tools
- Best Pentesting Tools 2018
- Tools Used For Hacking
- Nsa Hack Tools
- Pentest Box Tools Download
- How To Install Pentest Tools In Ubuntu
- Pentest Tools Find Subdomains
- Nsa Hack Tools Download
- Hacking Tools Online
- Android Hack Tools Github
- Hacker Tools Linux
- Hack Tool Apk
- Hacker Tools Github
- Tools 4 Hack
- Pentest Tools For Windows
- Pentest Tools
- Underground Hacker Sites
- Install Pentest Tools Ubuntu
- Best Hacking Tools 2019
- Pentest Tools Download
- Pentest Tools Online
- Hacking Tools For Games
- Hacker Hardware Tools
- Hacking Tools For Windows 7
- Hack Apps
- Hack Tools
- Hacking Tools For Games
- Easy Hack Tools
- Hacker Tools Mac
- Hack Tools For Windows
- Hacking Tools Windows 10
- Android Hack Tools Github
- Pentest Tools For Mac
- Hackrf Tools
- Hak5 Tools
- Hacker Tools
- Free Pentest Tools For Windows
- Hacking Tools For Windows 7
- Hack Tools For Mac
- Growth Hacker Tools
- Android Hack Tools Github
- Android Hack Tools Github
- Hacking Tools Software
- Pentest Tools Url Fuzzer
- Best Hacking Tools 2020
- Pentest Tools Apk
- Pentest Tools
- Pentest Tools Apk
- Hacking Tools Online
- Hack Website Online Tool
- Pentest Tools Github
- Underground Hacker Sites
- Pentest Tools Tcp Port Scanner
- How To Hack
- Pentest Tools Apk
- Hacking Tools Download
- Hacking Tools For Mac
- Hacker Tools For Windows
- Hack Tools
- What Are Hacking Tools
- Top Pentest Tools
- Beginner Hacker Tools
- Pentest Tools Tcp Port Scanner
- Pentest Tools Apk
- Best Pentesting Tools 2018
- Pentest Tools Alternative
- Hacking Tools 2019
- Hacking Tools Windows 10
- Hacking Tools Hardware
- Hacking Tools Download
- What Is Hacking Tools
- Hacking Tools For Beginners
- Android Hack Tools Github
- Hacker Tools For Windows
- Computer Hacker