Inside the Mind of a Hacker

The preemptive shift in modern hacking

Inside the Mind of a Hacker reveals how today’s hackers actually think and work—and why understanding those shifts is critical for staying ahead of real-world risk.

Hacking isn’t static. Motivations change. Collaboration is increasing. AI is reshaping how vulnerabilities are found. This report breaks down those changes and shows how security teams can respond more effectively right now.

What’s inside:

  • What motivates hackers and how to tailor your program to appeal to more hackers
  • Why more hackers are hacking in teams and how that benefits organizations
  • The top ways hackers are using AI to preemptively discover vulnerabilities

Download the Report

What are hackers finding?

71%

have found a new vulnerability in the past 12 months

85%

believe reporting a critical vulnerability is more important than making money from it

65%

have chosen not to disclose a vulnerability because there was no clear pathway to report it

How do hackers work?

61%

find more critical vulnerabilities when hacking in teams

82%

use AI as part of their hacking workflow

74%

believe AI has increased the value of hacking

Who are hackers?

92%

are 34 years old or younger

69%

graduated from college

81%

work full-time in a security-related field

“Security is a race where the finish line keeps moving forward and the only way to stay ahead is to run faster than everyone else. By utilizing AI, the pack not only gets ‘smarter’ but also quicker, running on a relentless 24/7 schedule.”

– OxMoose

Testimonial Image

More resources

Report

Inside the Mind of a CISO

Read More
Guide

Guide to Working with Hackers

Read More
Guide

Ultimate Guide to AI Safety and Security

Read More

Get Started with Bugcrowd

Every minute that goes by, your unknown vulnerabilities leave you more exposed to cyber attacks.