In a world where cybersecurity threats proliferate at an unprecedented rate, it’s no longer enough to simply understand that risk exists. Understanding what—and who—is capable of defending businesses against such cybersecurity threats can make the difference between a secure enterprise and the next USD 4.24 million data breach. This is where ethical hackers come in.

The Bugcrowd 2021 Inside the Mind of a Hacker report dives deep into the world of ethical hacking—offering the industry’s most robust study of global security researchers from more than 60 countries who collaborate on the Bugcrowd Security Knowledge Platform™ to create a world where no one is blindsided by cyberattacks.

Analyzing new survey data from security researchers and millions of proprietary data points on vulnerabilities from 2,961 programs, this latest edition unlocks new insights into the wide-ranging professional skills, neurodiversity, and personal goals that drive ethical hackers. What’s more, it unshrouds the uncertainty of crowdsourcing security—and explains exactly how this approach enables businesses to be proactive and do everything possible to protect their organization, reputation and customers.

Let’s face it—our future will not be free of hackers, but it will be without the companies that remain complacent. Forward-looking organizations can unlock access to a formidable global network of expert ethical hackers working around the clock on their behalf. This is the power and wisdom of the Bugcrowd Platform

Key Learnings

Through compelling firsthand interviews with ethical hackers working on our platform, you’ll discover why Bugcrowd is uniquely positioned to help the modern enterprise stay ahead of growing cybersecurity threats, with learnings that answer the following questions:

  • What does “ethical” really mean to a hacker? 86% of hackers believe that reporting a critical vulnerability is more important than making money from it, while a majority (55%) also agree that they do their work in order to cultivate professional development or serve the greater good. This suggests that intrinsic principles—not financial incentives—primarily motivate hackers to do what’s best for the businesses they work with, as well as the cybersecurity industry more broadly.
  • What makes crowdsourced security so powerful? Amid intense digital transformation, the number of cybersecurity breaches that organizations face has soared to a historic high. Unsurprisingly, 91% of ethical hackers agree that traditional testing can no longer keep companies secure.
  • How are Bugcrowd ethical hackers leading the way? In 2021, security researchers on the Bugcrowd Security Knowledge Platform™ prevented over USD $27 billion in cybercrime, protecting businesses from the vulnerabilities that traditional security tools fail to rectify. Ethical hacking does more than just secure data; it allows businesses to focus on their bottom line with confidence.

Looking Ahead

The breadth of expertise and experience that this community offers will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in cybersecurity through 2022 and well beyond. Understanding the risks and vulnerabilities that your organization faces today—and making the commitment to exposing and reducing them at every turn, as everyone at Bugcrowd does—is the first step to securing the future of your business tomorrow with assurance.

Inside the Mind of a Hacker 2021 offers new insights into the world of ethical hackers who are at the heart of the Bugcrowd Platform…Opening a door to unique perspectives on hacking, this report highlights the most critical cybersecurity issues of our time, how Bugcrowd security researchers are producing best-in-class results, and why organizations can trust ethical hackers to secure their future with confidence.