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More Than 10% of Mozilla Bug Finders Refuse Cash

Posted by Soulskill on from the never-underestimate-the-power-of-free-swag dept.

angry tapir writes "The open-source Mozilla project has been offering cash bounties for security bugs for six years now, but often bug finders simply turn down the cash. Between 10 percent and 15 percent of the serious security bugs reported since Mozilla launched its bug bounty program have been provided free of charge, according to Mozilla."

7 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. More evidence... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

    More evidence, if any were needed, that "Open Source" software is a sinister communist plot that defies all sound economic principles.

    Sincerely,
    S. Ballmer.

    1. Re:More evidence... by kg8484 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Ah, so what you really meant is:

      Y'know if they wanted to refuse the cash... instead of letting Mozilla keep it, have them donate it to the charity of my choice. Just sayin'.

    2. Re:More evidence... by somegeekynick · · Score: 5, Informative
      I realise that we might only end up debating semantics and matters concerning law (*shudder*) but, for what it's worth,

      The Mozilla Foundation, which is registered as a charity in the United States...

      Source And, California registration by the Mozilla Foundation as a charitable trust.

  2. Actually by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 5, Funny

    There was a bug in the bug submit form. I couldn't check off the box at the bottom that said "Wants Cash".

    Does that form work in Netscape?

  3. Job may not allow you to accept cash bounty by catherder_finleyd · · Score: 5, Informative

    If one were to find the bug in the course of one's job, the employer may not allow you to accept a cash bounty. This is certainly the case in the US Federal Government, as well as many Federal Contractors.

  4. Re:"Often"? by correnos · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In the context of "here have some cash", 15% is pretty often.

  5. Something more desired than cash. by shadowrat · · Score: 5, Funny

    These guys are probably finding bugs in Mozilla to get laid. I know my wingmen and i have used that line to great success many times. You wouldn't believe how fast the ladies forget the fighter pilots, basketball players, and CIA agents at the bar when I tell them about a DOM parsing error i discovered!

    To seal the deal i tell them i didn't want the money as i'm already super rich. Tomorrow i leave for africa to help impoverished children install Ubuntu.