Meet the force behind your security, BusesCanFly, a captivating blend of student, hardware reverse engineer, and software vulnerability researcher. With an insatiable thirst for the extraordinary, BusesCanFly thrives on the exhilaration of doing cool things every single day. So, are you ready to uncover the brilliance that lies beneath the surface? Delve into the featured researcher of this month’s spotlight!
How did you get into the Cybersecurity space?
“Basically by accident! Endless curiosity, a lifelong sense of mischief, and early fascination with electronics happened to perfectly work into becoming a hardware hacker. My love for computer hacking eventually wound up as a great hobby and career!”
Accidental hacking… it happens to all of us. 😉
How long have you been hunting?
“Roughly four or five years.”
How have bug bounties impacted your life?
“The biggest impact bug bounty (specifically live events) have had is introduce me to incredible people, many of which I’m extremely proud to call my close friends. The payout from my first live event got me to my first DEFCON, which will forever be a great memory :)”
There are countless awesome individuals waiting to be met, especially at live events. We highly recommend experiencing DEFCON at least once. By the way, we’re just one month away from the next exciting event! 👀
Are you a part-time or full-time hacker? How much time do you spend hacking each week?
“Part-time for sure, the time ranges anywhere from 0-20 hours a week depending on programs and availability.”
We believe that this is constantly subject to change for the majority of hackers, depending on their availability during any given week.
What has been your biggest challenge while hacking? How did you overcome it?
“With hardware hacking, programs are sporadic and super deep-dives are necessary, which make it extra tough to be consistent. Understanding and coming to terms with both external and internal limitations is a very important part of the process.”
Deep diving takes you further. 🏊
Do you have any favorite tools or resources? What are they?
“If I could only take one hardware tool with me it would be the Tigard by Joe Fitz. Aside from that, a trusty multimeter and a soldering iron can get a ton done :)”
If you could only use one tool forever, what would it be?
Do you have any advice for new hackers or people transitioning into bug bounty?
“Don’t be afraid to fail, especially when trying new things! Even if a vuln doesn’t pan out, picking up little bits of knowledge along the way will be even more valuable :)”
Aye-Aye Cap’n 🫡
What’s an important lesson that you wish you learned early on in your hacking career?
“A large part of hacking is being willing to poke at things most people aren’t willing or wanting to. Properly diving deep and setting up/instrumenting targets will pay off!”
How do you avoid burnout?
“Whenever I hit a rut in my research I try to remind myself what my goals are. While of course money helps a lot, and I am very privileged to not have to worry about bounties to support my life, reminding myself that my motivation is based in doing cool things and learning along the way helps keep me motivated & sane.”
In the ever-expanding realm of knowledge, there’s always room for learning and growth. But hey, don’t forget to sprinkle in some well-deserved breaks along the way! 😴
Why do you hunt with Bugcrowd?
“The people 🙂 Everyone I’ve interacted with at Bugcrowd has been amazing, many of which I’ve gotten to know quite well over the years :P”
Tell us what you do for a living or your career aspirations.
“Along with being a student, I work doing hardware reverse engineering and software vulnerability research.”
BusesCanFly does it all. 😲
What does your life look like outside of hacking?
“I love rock climbing, 3D printing, and being lazy in the sun :)”
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
“One of my earliest memories is being brought to a datacenter with my dad, being sat down near a tape drive sorting machine, and being captivated for hours.”
“Bug bounty has absolutely changed my life, and I’ll forever be grateful for the experiences I’ve had, people I’ve met along the way, and the great friendships that blossomed! <3”
BusesCanFly, it has been an absolute honor to hear about your hacker journey. We are on the edge of our seats, eagerly anticipating your next mind-blowing move! Want to stay caught up with all things Bugcrowd? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and don’t forget to join us on Discord! Are you ready to join the hunt? Sign up for a researcher account today and start your hacking journey!
