Rockstar Games, a renowned gaming company, has recently disclosed the amount of money they paid out to hackers in the past year. This revelation may surprise many, but it highlights the company’s commitment to rewarding ethical hackers who identify and report vulnerabilities rather than exploiting them for malicious purposes.
According to a report by gta.com.ua, Rockstar Games published a summary of their 2024 activities on their official HackerOne page. HackerOne is a platform that allows individuals to report security breaches they have discovered in a company’s systems. Organizations offer monetary rewards for reports, along with details on how the breach occurred and potential solutions. This practice, known as ethical hacking, aims to enhance cybersecurity by identifying and resolving vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
In the case of Rockstar Games, rewards for reporting vulnerabilities range from as low as $150 to as high as $25,000, depending on the severity of the issue. The majority of reports received by the company were classified as medium severity, comprising 51.42% of all reports and resulting in payments ranging from $500 to $1000 each. Since the inception of their HackerOne program in 2017, Rockstar Games has paid a total of $393,150 to hackers for identifying and reporting vulnerabilities.
Rockstar Games previously shared information about their HackerOne program in 2019 when they expanded it to cover vulnerabilities in GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and their companion apps, in addition to GTA Online. Now, after five years, the company has provided a comprehensive overview of their activities in 2024.
The latest statement from Rockstar Games on HackerOne expresses gratitude to the hacking community for their contributions in enhancing the performance and security of the company’s games. The statement acknowledges the efforts of 21 hackers who submitted 36 valid reports throughout the year, resulting in a total payout of $16,875. The company also recognizes the top three hackers – @monkeyz31, @orilevitech, and @floorball – for their contributions. The note concludes with a message of appreciation to all hackers and a look forward to the discoveries they will make in 2025.
If you have discovered a security vulnerability and wish to receive a reward for reporting it, you can submit your findings to Rockstar Games through HackerOne. Have you utilized this platform to report vulnerabilities in the past? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
Overall, Rockstar Games’ proactive approach towards cybersecurity and collaboration with ethical hackers demonstrates their commitment to ensuring a safe and secure gaming experience for their players. By incentivizing the reporting of vulnerabilities, the company is actively working to stay ahead of potential threats and protect their user base from malicious attacks.