Security researcher interview π₯οΈ
We spoke with security researcher and bug hunter
@m0m0x01d . He shared with us how he got started in bug bounty, who inspires him, and he offered some tips for beginner researchers.Β
1β£ How did you get started with bug bounty?
It all happened pretty naturally. I've always been curious about how things work and, over time, I began to also wonder why they fail. When I found out there were platforms that actually pay you to look for those failures, one of my hobbies turned into a job.
2β£ How do you approach finding vulnerabilities, and what do you usually focus on?
I usually start by figuring out the tech stack behind the app or website so I know what I'm dealing with and where weak spots are likely. I go after the simple, obvious issues first, the things that break with very little effort. After that, I slow down and spend more time on complex flows and edge cases.Β
3β£ What types of bugs are the easiest for you to find right now?
Mainly logic issues. You don't need advanced coding skills or certifications for those. You need a clear idea of how a feature is supposed to work and the habit of noticing when you can use it in a way the creators never planned.Β
Mainly logic issues. You donβt need advanced coding skills or certifications for those β just a clear understanding of how a feature is supposed to work, and the ability to notice when it can be used in a way the creators didnβt intend.
4β£ What tools or techniques do you find most useful?
I mostly use FFUF and a few small tools I built myself. Still, most of my findings come from manual testing. Tools just speed up the process β theyβre helpful, but not essential.
5β£ What channels, blogs, or resources do you follow to improve your skills?
This field changes constantly. Every month brings new techniques and new CVEs, so keeping up with the latest updates is critical. OWASP is great for learning and skill growth, and vulnerability catalogs like
dbugs.ptsecurity.com are very helpful for exploitation.
6β£ Are there any researchers you particularly follow or draw inspiration from?
There are many researchers I really respect, especially those who've mastered a specific domain. For example, OrwaGodFather is incredible at recon, Abdallah (HackerX007) excels at authorization issues, and shubs is brilliant with reverse engineering. But the person I admire most is Hussein98D. He's one of the most versatile hunters I've seen: he seems to adapt instantly to any new target, no matter the field.
7β£ Which report has been the most memorable for you?
The most meaningful one was my first accepted report. It was an HTTP parameter pollution issue in an old public program, and I couldn't believe I'd found something that had been there for so long. The payout was only $200, but it gave me a huge boost of confidence. That same week, I ended up reporting over $2,000 worth of issues. It showed me how one small win can push you to go much bigger.
8β£ What advice would you give to beginners who are just getting started?
Right now, there's a lot of inaccurate information online, especially from newer hunters making low-quality tutorials just for views. Many beginners end up building the wrong foundation because of it.
If you really want to master the craft, focus on understanding how the things you're testing actually work. Learn how a website is built, try creating a simple one yourself. Get the basics down: what a vhost is, how DNS works, what a reverse proxy does, how a database talks to a server. All those small pieces add up, and once you understand the structure behind everything, finding real issues becomes much easier.
Thanks to
@m0m0x01d for the inspiring words! We're sure that after such detailed answers, there will be more bug hunters out there.