This Bare Metal Cyber episode shines a light on Bug Bounty Programs, where ethical hackers get paid to sniff out your system’s weak spots—think XSS flaws or remote code exploits—before the bad guys do. We cover how these setups, whether public like Google’s or private via HackerOne, crowdsource global talent to boost security, save cash over internal audits, and keep you GDPR-compliant by catching bugs early. It’s a win-win: you get tougher defenses, and researchers snag rewards from 100 bucks to 50 grand.

We break down launching one: set a clear scope (like “app.example.com”), pick your crowd, and dish out fair bounties with safe harbor promises to keep it legal. You’ll hear how to triage reports, fix flaws fast, and keep researchers jazzed with quick feedback—plus dodge headaches like duplicate submissions or scope creep. With AI triage and cloud platforms on the horizon, this episode shows how bug bounties can supercharge your security game plan.