Roblox’s Secret Weapon Against Hackers: Paying Them
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Rather than simply hoping their platforms remain unseen by those with malicious intent, Roblox have taken a decidedly different tack, they actively pay them. Through their robust HackerOne bug bounty programme, Roblox have forged a strong security perimeter, built with the help of some of the internet's most skilled ethical hackers.
Roblox's investment in security is clear. To date, they've disbursed over $860,000 in bounties, and offer up to $10,000 for reports detailing high-impact vulnerabilities. This isn't merely generosity; it's a strategic investment. In a platform frequented by millions of children and creators, trust and safety are paramount, and paying 'white-hat' hackers to identify issues before 'black-hat' actors can exploit them is clearly a worthwhile endeavour.
The examples gleaned from the programme highlight the severity of the threats addressed. One researcher uncovered a reflected XSS vulnerability within the company's Jira system – an issue that could have enabled attackers to inject malicious code into a user's browser session. Another case revealed a vulnerability involving the exposure of sensitive files, potentially divulging server configurations. These aren't theoretical risks; they're genuine threats that were neutralised before they could affect the public.