From the moment you start hacking, the journey of searching for bugs, submitting vulnerabilities, and earning payouts is both thrilling and rewarding. But with the power to uncover vulnerabilities for top corporations around the world comes a significant responsibility. Whether you’re chasing the adrenaline, seeking monetary rewards, or building your reputation as a hacker, mastering the Code of Conduct (CoC) for any platform is essential to success. It’s not just about finding bugs—it’s about playing the game ethically and professionally.

Let’s delve into why the Bugcrowd Code of Conduct (CoC) is your ultimate compass on the Bugcrowd platform, how to avoid common missteps, and how abiding by these principles can propel your hacking career to new heights.

Adhering to the CoC is essential to your success

For many, hacking isn’t just a hobby; it’s a commitment to making the internet a safer, more secure place. You’re part of a global community of ethical hackers working together to strengthen systems and protect users. But, like any member of an exclusive club, you must adhere to the non-negotiable CoC. Break the rules, and you risk penalties, account suspensions, or missing out on golden opportunities. Rule breaks are considered CoC violations and are taken seriously. 

So, let’s dive into the common violations, understand why they happen, and get you equipped to thrive. Ready to level up? Let’s go!

Respect the scope: Stick to the plan

Think of an engagement scope as your treasure map—stick to it, and you’ll find the gold. Platforms like Bugcrowd work closely with engagement owners to communicate and write out clear instructions on what’s in scope and what’s off-limits. Deviate from the right path, and you could land in hot water.

Pro tip: Before you embark on any testing, double-check the scope. Even go so far as triple-check as you’re testing. If something’s murky, don’t hesitate to ask Bugcrowd support for clarity. It’s far better to ask than to regret a misstep.

Responsible disclosure: Timing is everything

Uncovering a vulnerability is like finding a hidden gem—but don’t show it off too soon! Prematurely disclosing vulnerabilities before an organization has had a chance to patch them can harm their operations and your reputation. Keep your findings under wraps until the company gives you the green light to go public. Confidentiality is the name of the game.

Tip: Report your findings to organizations in a professional and responsible manner. Give them the opportunity to address any issues before releasing them publicly. Follow the appropriate submission processes through the Bugcrowd platform. Bugcrowd has helpful hacker templates to make the submission process even easier. 

No exploitation: Be the protector

As a hacker, you’re a guardian of the internet, not an opportunist seeking to exploit errors for personal gain. Exploiting vulnerabilities for selfish purposes goes against the very spirit of ethical hacking—and it’s a direct CoC violation.

Tip: Remember, your mission is to secure, not to sabotage. You’re here to help make the digital world safer, not take advantage of others’ weaknesses. Rewards are far greater for those who act as heroes rather than villains.

Avoid disruptive behavior: Keep it smooth, keep it safe

Hacking is about finding flaws, not causing chaos. Don’t interfere with live services, crash systems, or disrupt business operations. A key differentiator of top hackers is that they seek to identify vulnerabilities without affecting a system’s regular performance.

Tip: Focus on uncovering vulnerabilities without jeopardizing a system’s integrity. Your goal is to improve, not break. For some quick tips and tricks to get you started in a professional manner, check out Katie Paxton-Fear’s series with Bugcrowd. 

Common violations and how to avoid them

Let’s address some classic violations and mistakes many hackers make and how to steer clear of them:

• Spamming for updates—It’s tempting to constantly ask for updates, but flooding support with requests only creates noise and frustration.

Tip: Use Bugcrowd’s Request a Response (RaR) feature for an official inquiry. It’s far more effective—and professional.

• Submitting multiple tickets for the same issue—Bombarding support with numerous tickets won’t expedite a response. In fact, it can overwhelm the system and leave you more frustrated.

Tip: Focus on submitting well-crafted, detailed reports. If you notice that something got missed, a polite follow-up via the RaR feature is the best course of action. Check out this interview with Bugcrowd triage on submitting high-quality reports. 

• Unprofessional language—Losing your cool can happen, especially when you’re feeling frustrated. But swearing, typing in all caps, or generally being rude will only hurt your reputation on the platform and with engagement owners.

Tip: Always remain respectful and professional in your communication. A calm and thoughtful approach goes a long way in maintaining a stellar reputation.

The benefits of playing by the rules

Now, let’s talk about the rewards that come with sticking to the CoC. Trust me, the benefits are well worth the effort!

• Build trust—When you play by the rules, you earn the trust of both companies and fellow hackers. This can lead to private invitations to exclusive programs and higher payouts.
• Build your reputation—In the world of hacking, your reputation is everything. One slipup can tarnish your credibility and limit your opportunities, so keep your conduct top notch at all times.
• Build community—When we all uphold the CoC, the entire cybersecurity ecosystem flourishes. Companies are more inclined to continue offering programs when they see a community of ethical, responsible hackers doing their part to help secure the digital world in a professional manner.

Following the Bugcrowd CoC isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about opening doors to exciting opportunities. Better rewards are a key benefit, as organizations value professional approaches. It’s common for organizations to provide additional rewards for submissions that are well-documented and handled responsibly and if they had a positive experience communicating with the hacker involved. Furthermore, maintaining a solid reputation through ethical practices opens doors for valuable collaboration opportunities with prestigious security teams and other top hackers, potentially leading to partnerships with industry leaders and chances to mentor incoming hackers or learn from experienced ones. These professional relationships can prove invaluable for career advancement beyond immediate financial rewards.

Conclusion: Keep it classy, keep it safe

Being a hacker is about more than just finding vulnerabilities—it’s about elevating your craft through professionalism, ethics, and a shared commitment to improving the cybersecurity system. The CoC ensures that we all work toward this goal with integrity. Stick to it, and you’ll set yourself up for success. 

Let’s keep making the internet a safer place.

Happy hunting, and may your hunts always be ethical!