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PayPal Starts Bug Bounty Program

Posted by samzenpus on from the bug-hunt dept.

Trailrunner7 writes "PayPal is the latest company to join the ranks of software vendors and Web properties that offer bounties to security researchers who privately disclose new bugs to them. The company isn't saying how much it will pay for each bug, just that its security team will determine the severity of each flaw as well as the ultimate payout. PayPal's decision to offer financial incentives to researchers follows the establishment of similar programs by companies including Google, Mozilla, Facebook, Barracuda and others. Google's bug bounty program may be the most well-known and comprehensive, as it includes bugs not just in its software products such as Chrome, but also its Web properties. The company has paid out more than $400,000 in rewards to researchers since the program began and researchers who consistently find bugs in Google's products can make a nice side income off the program."

13 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. Bugs? by DogDude · · Score: 2

    PayPal has been around for more than a decade. They handle a lot of other peoples' money. And they still have bugs?!?

    People who know this and continue to use PayPal... well... wow.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
    1. Re:Bugs? by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 4, Insightful

      All software has bugs, it's inevitable. The variables are simply how frequent and how severe these bugs are, based on who programmed the code and how well the QA did their job.

    2. Re:Bugs? by olivier69 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      1) "software" isn't static, so newer bugs can be introduced 2) even properly written and managed software depends on libraries, compilers, systems, all of which can have bugs

    3. Re:Bugs? by nospam007 · · Score: 2

      "Software that has been around and has been tested thoroughly isn't going to have a lot of bugs. PayPal shouldn't have any glaring bugs at this point."

      That's why they have waited until _now_ to pay for bugs.
      It's financially responsible.

    4. Re:Bugs? by Xiaran · · Score: 4, Informative

      I think Donald Knuth said is best regarding the versioning of TeX. TeX uses pi as the version number... everytime a new version is relased a number is to be added to the pi version... currently it is 3.1415926. The person to find the last bug will put the last number of pi.

    5. Re:Bugs? by Normal+Dan · · Score: 3, Funny

      Every program contains at least one bug and one useless line of code. Theoretically every program can be reduced down to a single useless line that still contains a bug.

      --
      A unique way to learn a language: http://languageloom.com
  2. hahahahahahahahahaha *cough* *cough* *hack* by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Oh my gods.. I can't breathe!

    What the hell is this? Since when has Paypal been concerned about quality of service to ANYONE?

    Every problem I have ever reported has resulted in a metaphorical slap in the face, tons of paperwork, or both. Everyone is guilty until proven innocent but the scammers who can easily sidestep anything they do and only the honest get punished. Why would this be different with bugs?

    1. Re:hahahahahahahahahaha *cough* *cough* *hack* by EasyTarget · · Score: 2

      Since when has Paypal been concerned about quality of service to ANYONE?

      Only for us little people...

      They gave Joe Lieberman fantastic service.

      --
      "Oops, I always forget the purpose of competition is to divide people into winners and losers." - Hobbes
  3. I FOUND A BUG!! by realsilly · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's their Management. If they would fix that....

    How much is that worth?

    --
    Life takes interesting turns, but the most interest is when you're off the beaten path.
  4. Tricksy tricksy by Torp · · Score: 2

    The bounty will be paid in your paypal account (if you do not have one, you will have to create one), and then paypal will freeze your account without any explanation or appeal process :)

    --
    I apologize for the lack of a signature.
  5. I found one! by slashmydots · · Score: 2

    Does this count as a bug? They send out customer surveys that actually are from them but look extremely fake and point to a domain other than their own, which violates every single internet standard and their own safety and security guidelines.
    Oh and every time I go to their site, it attempts to launch the default media player plugin for whatever browser I'm using which gets blocked as a security threat by default in default configurations of IE8 and 9 and I think Firefox as well.

    1. Re:I found one! by mark-t · · Score: 2

      Arguably, yes.... but to make any claim on a bounty, you are obligated to discuss the matter with them privately.

      As you've already openly disclosed it here, however... it is too late for that.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
  6. Not in the software by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 2

    The problem is that most of the bugs are in the human end of the system, not in the software.

    --

    Technoli