Twitter and the bug bounty hunters

Unless you live under a rock, you will by now have read about the scandal over the unfortunate (some may argue not so unfortunate!) release of those explicit celebrity pictures leaked all over the internet – ostensibly taken by infiltrating the iCloud accounts of the rich and famous. And the timing could not have been worse for Apple, just weeks before the highly anticipated launch of the iPhone 6.

Although many have made light of the affair, the incident underlines a serious online security risk and threat to the exposure of sensitive data and information, which seemingly is becoming easier for criminals to get their mitts on.

But Twitter is fighting back! In response to the security breach, the platform is making efforts to instil confidence to its Tweeters, showing how serious it is about keeping its users safe. It announced:

“To recognize their efforts and the important role they play in keeping Twitter safe for everyone we offer a bounty for reporting certain qualifying security vulnerabilities.”

The “bug bounty programme” will offer a minimum reward of $140 to independent security researchers, or hackers, who report a vulnerability or bug. So far over 46 bugs have been sought and destroyed – And the higher the severity, the larger the cash incentive Twitter is willing to pay. Twitter the Terminator means serious business!

©  “Terminator in Disguise” photo by Pascal. Attribution 2.0 Generic

Latest Posts

Truth on Fire, and Brands Are in the Line of It We’re all in the truth business now. At Somerset House, on a chilly evening in June, I joined a panel to unpack the uncomfortable realities of misinformation and disinformation, and what brands can do about it. The session was…
Read More
Yes, that is me being a bit obvious, but sometimes you need to be a bit blunt.  Social is where buyers research, where conversion journeys begin, and where measurable business outcomes are shaped. And yet too often, it’s still seen as secondary to ‘real’ marketing. This newsletter edition…
Read More
Reddit may have been in the shadows of other social platforms for years – in fact, the debate is on as to whether it’s a social platform at all – but one thing is for sure, the B2B buyer and marketeer are finding it a safe haven for research and…
Read More