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.
Read more
- Pentest Tools For Ubuntu
- Nsa Hack Tools
- Hacking Tools Software
- New Hacker Tools
- Pentest Tools Apk
- Hack Tool Apk
- How To Make Hacking Tools
- Hacking Tools For Windows Free Download
- Hacker Tools Apk
- Pentest Reporting Tools
- Hack Tool Apk
- Hacker Tools Github
- Hacker
- Hacker Tools For Pc
- Tools 4 Hack
- Hack Website Online Tool
- Hacker Tools 2020
- Pentest Tools Apk
- Best Hacking Tools 2019
- Hacker Tools For Windows
- Ethical Hacker Tools
- Best Pentesting Tools 2018
- Physical Pentest Tools
- Hack Tools Github
- Hacking Tools For Beginners
- Hacking Tools 2019
- Pentest Tools Free
- World No 1 Hacker Software
- Nsa Hack Tools Download
- Github Hacking Tools
- How To Install Pentest Tools In Ubuntu
- Pentest Tools Nmap
- Nsa Hack Tools Download
- Hack Tool Apk
- Underground Hacker Sites
- Hacker Search Tools
- Hacking Tools For Games
- Hacker Tools 2019
- Hack Apps
- Kik Hack Tools
- Hacking Tools Windows 10
- Hacker Tool Kit
- Hacking Tools For Beginners
- Pentest Tools Tcp Port Scanner
- Hack Website Online Tool
- Hack App
- Hack Tool Apk No Root
- Pentest Recon Tools
- Hacking Tools Download
- Hacking Tools Free Download
- Hacking Tools Download
- Hackers Toolbox
- Hacker Tools Apk
- Hacking Tools Kit
- Hacker
- Pentest Tools Website Vulnerability
- Pentest Tools Windows
- Pentest Tools Port Scanner
- Hacker Tools Apk Download
- Hack Tools 2019
- Hack Tools For Ubuntu
- Hak5 Tools
- Pentest Tools Linux
- Hacking Tools For Windows 7
- Hacker Tools For Ios
- Hacking Tools 2020
- Tools For Hacker
- Easy Hack Tools
- Pentest Tools Website
- Hack Tools For Ubuntu
- Hacking Tools For Windows
- New Hack Tools
- Hacking Tools Online
- Pentest Tools Find Subdomains
- Hackers Toolbox
- Hack Tool Apk
- Hacking Tools Pc
- Hacker Security Tools
- Pentest Tools Alternative
- Hacking Tools For Beginners
- Hacking Tools Software
- Hack App
- Black Hat Hacker Tools
- Hacking Tools 2019
- Install Pentest Tools Ubuntu
- Pentest Tools Subdomain
- Pentest Tools Subdomain
- Pentest Tools For Android
- Hacker Tools Free Download
- Hacker Tools Github
- Hack Tools
- Android Hack Tools Github
- Hacking Tools Name
- Hacking Tools For Pc
- Underground Hacker Sites
- Hacking Tools Mac
- Hack Tools
- Growth Hacker Tools
- Beginner Hacker Tools
- Pentest Tools Bluekeep
- Hack Tool Apk No Root
- Pentest Tools
- Hacking Tools
- Nsa Hack Tools
- Game Hacking
- Hacking Tools For Windows Free Download
- Pentest Tools List
- Nsa Hack Tools Download
- Pentest Tools Bluekeep
- Pentest Tools Bluekeep
- Hack Tools Mac
- Hacking Tools For Windows 7
- Android Hack Tools Github
- Hack Tools Pc
- Pentest Tools Port Scanner
- Hacking Tools Pc
- Hacking App
- Pentest Automation Tools
- Hacker Tools Software
- Hacker Tools For Ios
- Pentest Tools Download
- Hack Tools Github
- Hacker Tools Free
- Hacking Tools And Software
- Pentest Tools Subdomain
- Physical Pentest Tools
- Hacking Tools Windows
- Pentest Tools Github
- Pentest Tools Kali Linux
- Hacking Tools For Pc
- Computer Hacker
- New Hack Tools
- Hak5 Tools
- Easy Hack Tools
- Hacker Tools Hardware
- Hacker Search Tools
- Termux Hacking Tools 2019
- Hacker Tools Online
- Hack And Tools
- Computer Hacker
- Pentest Automation Tools
- Best Hacking Tools 2019
- Hack Tools Online
- Hacker Tools Github
- Hack App
- World No 1 Hacker Software
- Best Hacking Tools 2019
- Hacking Tools Pc
- Hacking Tools For Pc
- Hacker Tools For Ios
- Kik Hack Tools
- Hack Tools
- Hacking Tools 2019
- Hacking Tools
- Hacking Tools And Software
- Pentest Tools List
- Nsa Hack Tools Download
- Best Pentesting Tools 2018
- Android Hack Tools Github
- Hacker Tool Kit
- Hacking Tools Pc
- Hack Tools For Pc
- What Is Hacking Tools
- Hacker Tools Apk Download
- Hacks And Tools
- Tools 4 Hack