5 Lessons That Made Me $1M Since 2022

Summary

This video shares five key lessons learned by a successful bug bounty hunter, emphasizing the importance of consistent growth, stepping out of your comfort zone, and focusing on objectives rather than just tools. Key lessons include pushing yourself to learn new techniques, hacking with clear goals, avoiding overcomplication, maintaining consistency in your routine, and understanding that bug bounty hunting is a marathon, not a sprint. The speaker encourages viewers to commit to one lesson for a month to see tangible results and build sustainable habits in their bug bounty journey.

Takeaways

• 😀 Get out of your comfort zone: Success in bug bounty hunting requires stepping into unfamiliar areas and tackling challenges outside your usual skillset.
• 😀 Push through discomfort: Your biggest wins often come when you're most uncomfortable and pushing yourself to learn new things.
• 😀 Focus on objectives, not just tools: Instead of hunting for specific vulnerabilities, focus on achieving specific goals (e.g., accessing protected data).
• 😀 Simplify your approach: Don’t overcomplicate things by obsessing over perfect setups or tools. Start hunting and improve as you go.
• 😀 Build a consistent routine: Set aside regular time for hacking, just like any other skill, and make it a part of your daily life.
• 😀 Develop a hacker mindset: Train your brain to think like a hacker in everyday situations, constantly looking for vulnerabilities.
• 😀 Avoid mental barriers: Don’t let imaginary obstacles (e.g., lack of access to private programs or advanced tools) hold you back.
• 😀 Learn progressively: Focus on mastering one or two bug types at a time, then build your experience before expanding to others.
• 😀 Bug bounty hunting is a marathon: Set realistic schedules and pace yourself to avoid burnout. Long-term success requires consistency.
• 😀 Take breaks to refresh: Sometimes stepping away and returning with fresh eyes leads to breakthroughs and better findings.

Q & A

What is the most important lesson the speaker learned in their journey as a bug bounty hunter?

The most important lesson is to get out of your comfort zone. Growth comes from doing things that feel uncomfortable and pushing yourself to learn new technologies and techniques.

What does the speaker mean by hacking with an objective?

Hacking with an objective means focusing on achieving a specific goal, such as gaining access to protected data or an internal network, rather than just looking for specific vulnerabilities like XSS or IDOR.

Why does the speaker stress the importance of consistency in bug bounty hunting?

Consistency is important because it helps develop a regular routine for hacking and builds a hacker mindset in everyday life. It's not about working nonstop but about making hacking a consistent part of your routine.

How does the speaker suggest overcoming the temptation to overcomplicate things?

The speaker advises against focusing too much on building perfect tools or obsessing over imagined obstacles like lacking access to private programs. Instead, focus on actual bug hunting without creating unnecessary mental barriers.

What is the key difference between a bug and an objective in bug bounty hunting?

A bug is a vulnerability, while an objective is the goal you're trying to achieve with that vulnerability. For example, finding a way to access protected data or taking over a user account is an objective, while finding an XSS or IDOR is just a tool that may help achieve that goal.

How does the speaker's personal experience with discomfort tie into their bug bounty success?

The speaker's biggest successes came when they were forced to step outside their comfort zone and tackle technologies they didn’t fully understand. Embracing discomfort allowed them to grow and ultimately land large bounties and an MVH award.

What mindset shift is necessary to go from being a regular bug bounty hunter to a successful one?

The shift is from focusing solely on finding bugs to focusing on achieving specific objectives. This means thinking strategically about what you want to achieve and using tools like XSS or IDOR as means to an end.

What does the speaker mean by ‘hacker mindset’ in daily life?

The hacker mindset is about cultivating curiosity and constantly questioning how things work. It involves noticing potential vulnerabilities in everyday interactions, like wondering if a URL could be vulnerable to an IDOR attack.

Why does the speaker recommend starting with just one or two types of vulnerabilities?

Starting with a few specific bug types allows you to build expertise in those areas, making it easier to spot vulnerabilities and increase your chances of success. It's better to master a few things than to try to learn everything at once, which can lead to burnout.

What is the significance of treating bug bounty hunting as a marathon, not a sprint?

Treating bug bounty hunting as a marathon emphasizes the importance of pacing yourself and working sustainably over time. It's about consistency and setting a realistic schedule, rather than overworking and risking burnout.