This episode breaks down the rise of “beg bounties” and examines how unsolicited vulnerability claims create confusion, noise, and operational overhead for security teams. Sean Martin and Casey Ellis discuss what organizations can do to prepare, respond, and set clear expectations through structured disclosure policies.
⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥
Understanding Beg Bounties and Their Growing Impact
This episode examines an issue that many organizations have begun to notice, yet often do not know how to interpret. Sean Martin is joined by Casey Ellis, Founder of Bugcrowd and Co-Founder of disclose.io, to break down what a “beg bounty” is, why it is increasing, and how security leaders should think about it in the context of responsible vulnerability handling.
Bug Bounty vs. Beg Bounty
Casey explains the core principles of a traditional bug bounty program. At its core, a bug bounty is a structured engagement in which an organization invites security researchers to identify vulnerabilities and pays rewards based on severity and impact. It is scoped, governed, and linked to an established policy. The process is predictable, defensible, and aligned with responsible disclosure norms.
A beg bounty is something entirely different. It occurs when an unsolicited researcher claims to have found a vulnerability and immediately asks whether the organization offers incentives or rewards. In many cases, the claim is vague or unsupported and is often based on automated scanner output rather than meaningful research. Casey notes that these interactions can feel like unsolicited street windshield washing, where the person provides an unrequested service and then asks for payment.
Why It Matters for CISOs and Security Teams
Security leaders face a difficult challenge. These messages appear serious on the surface, yet most offer no actionable details. Responding to each one triggers incident response workflows, consumes time, and raises unnecessary internal concern. Casey warns that these interactions can create confusion about legality, expectations, and even the risk of extortion.
At the same time, ignoring every inbound message is not a realistic long-term strategy. Some communications may contain legitimate findings from well-intentioned researchers who lack guidance. Casey emphasizes the importance of process, clarity, and policy.
How Organizations Can Prepare
According to Casey, the most effective approach is to establish a clear vulnerability disclosure policy. This becomes a lightning rod for inbound security information. By directing researchers to a defined path, organizations reduce noise, set boundaries, and reinforce safe communication practices.
The episode highlights the need for community norms, internal readiness, and a shared understanding between researchers and defenders. Casey stresses that good-faith researchers should never introduce payment into the first contact. Organizations should likewise be prepared to distinguish between noise and meaningful security input.
This conversation offers valuable context for CISOs, security leaders, and business owners navigating the growing wave of unsolicited bug claims and seeking practical ways to address them.
⬥GUEST⬥
Casey Ellis, Founder and Advisor at Bugcrowd | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyjohnellis/
⬥HOST⬥
Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsmartin/ | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com
⬥RESOURCES⬥
Inspiring Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/caseyjohnellis_im-thinking-we-should-start-charging-bug-activity-7383974061464453120-caEW
Disclose.io: https://disclose.io/
⬥ADDITIONAL INFORMATION⬥
✨ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast:
🎧 https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast
Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube:
📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq
📝 The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/
Contact Sean Martin to request to be a guest on an episode of Redefining CyberSecurity: https://www.seanmartin.com/contact
⬥KEYWORDS⬥
cybersecurity, bug bounty, vulnerability disclosure, beg bounty, hacking, researcher, ciso, security teams, risk management, web security, security policy, vulnerability reporting, cyber risk, bugcrowd, discloseio