Manual Penetration Testing vs Bug Bounty Programs

Developers should learn manual penetration testing to build more secure applications by thinking like an attacker and identifying logic flaws, business logic vulnerabilities, and complex attack chains that automated scanners often overlook meets developers should learn about bug bounty programs to understand real-world security threats and how vulnerabilities are exploited, which enhances their ability to write secure code and conduct effective security testing. Here's our take.

Manual Penetration Testing

Nice Pick

Developers should learn manual penetration testing to build more secure applications by thinking like an attacker and identifying logic flaws, business logic vulnerabilities, and complex attack chains that automated scanners often overlook

Pros

• It's crucial for roles in application security, red teaming, or secure development, especially when assessing custom or legacy systems, conducting compliance audits (like PCI DSS or HIPAA), or performing targeted security assessments for high-value assets
• Related to: vulnerability-assessment, owasp-top-10

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Bug Bounty Programs

Developers should learn about bug bounty programs to understand real-world security threats and how vulnerabilities are exploited, which enhances their ability to write secure code and conduct effective security testing

Pros

• This knowledge is crucial for roles in application security, penetration testing, or when building systems that require high security, such as financial or healthcare applications
• Related to: penetration-testing, web-application-security

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Manual Penetration Testing if: You want it's crucial for roles in application security, red teaming, or secure development, especially when assessing custom or legacy systems, conducting compliance audits (like pci dss or hipaa), or performing targeted security assessments for high-value assets and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Bug Bounty Programs if: You prioritize this knowledge is crucial for roles in application security, penetration testing, or when building systems that require high security, such as financial or healthcare applications over what Manual Penetration Testing offers.

The Bottom Line

Manual Penetration Testing wins

Developers should learn manual penetration testing to build more secure applications by thinking like an attacker and identifying logic flaws, business logic vulnerabilities, and complex attack chains that automated scanners often overlook