With the upcoming PS5 release, Sony has now made the bounty program for the PS4 public. For critical bugs, there’s a substantial bounty starting at $50,000. Even minor bugs are rewarded with a bounty. We explain how the system works and how much hackers have earned in the past.
Where does the information come from? Sony announced on blog.playstation.com that it is now making the “PlayStation Bug Bounty” program public. Previously, the program was only accessible to a specific group of individuals. However, that is set to change. Sony writes in the official announcement:
Until now, we have conducted our bug bounty program privately with a select group of researchers. We recognize the valuable role that the research community plays in improving security, which is why we are excited to announce our program to the broader community.
Sony, via: blog.playstation.com
We explain how Sony’s bounty program works and what financial incentives there have been in the past.
PS4 Bounty Program – Here’s How It Works
What should I be aware of? Basically, now anyone can become a bounty hunter and begin to search for bugs.
HackerOne coordinates the reporting of bugs and exploits for Sony. If you discover a bug, you can report it directly via HackerOne. To do this, log in there and submit the bug you found. HackerOne is a platform for coordinating security vulnerabilities and bug fixing. The service is used by many large companies to identify weaknesses.
Sony then reviews the submitted bugs and attempts to fix them. Besides issues that only Sony can resolve, you can also address a problem with the PS4 itself: We have for you the 6 best tips if your PS4 is too loud and hot.
What is the monetary incentive? Financial rewards are given not only for critical bugs but also for various other bugs. There are four levels of bugs, each with different monetary rewards:
- If you report minor bugs, you will receive $500
- For medium bugs, you can get $2,500
- If you find severe bugs, Sony promises $10,000
- For critical bugs (exploits), there is even $50,000.
The amounts mentioned for the bounties are minimum values. Depending on the bug, there can be significantly higher rewards.
Is there anything besides money? Of course, there is gratitude from Sony and eternal glory in the HackerOne Hall of Fame.
Sony also promises every person who finds a bug a T-shirt with the print “Secure@Sony Finder.” You can then show everywhere that you have found bugs for Sony.
PS4 Errors: How Much Has There Been in the Past?
HackerOne, who coordinate the initiative for Sony, have published numbers and facts about the bugs and the money on their site:
- Thanks to reports, Sony has fixed a total of 88 bugs.
- A total of $173,900 has been paid out in bounties. The average payout was $400.
- In the last 90 days (as of June 25, 2020), a total of $51,900 has been paid out.
- The largest payouts ranged between $2,500 and $40,000.
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