Critical Thinking - Bug Bounty Podcast Episode 155: 2025 Hacker Stats & 2026 Goals
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Jan 1, 2026 Reflecting on the transformative year of 2025 for bug bounty hunters, the hosts celebrate the freedom and thrill of finding high-impact bugs. They share memorable moments from events in Tokyo and Seattle, discussing what truly makes a discovery fulfilling. With insights into the challenges of automation and balancing time, they lay out ambitious goals for 2026, including collaboration plans and a focus on AI research. The conversation also touches on evolving bug scoring methods and the exciting potential of AI-assisted hacking.
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Dopamine Of Finding And Getting Paid
- Justin describes the dopamine cycle: finding a vuln, writing a report, and getting paid creates huge satisfaction.
- He compares it to being the 'coolest person ever' after outsmarting big companies and receiving bounties.
Tokyo Event Felt Like College
- Rez0 recounts rooming with other hackers in Tokyo and how living and hacking together felt like college again.
- The social experience and collaboration at events was a standout memory for him in 2025.
Seattle Win Came With A Business Upgrade
- Brandyn tells a personal story about winning awards at a Seattle IPC and getting upgraded to business class on the flight home.
- The event's success and the flight upgrade became a memorable validation for his first year full-time.