Bug Bounty Programs Expand Into Critical Manufacturing Sector

This week saw a growing number of industrial and manufacturing firms formally launching bug bounty programs, inviting vetted ethical hackers to probe production management portals, remote access gateways, and supplier portals for vulnerabilities. Traditionally cautious about exposing operational environments, plant operators are now carving out carefully segmented test systems and digital twins where security researchers can safely identify weaknesses without risking real-world stoppages. Early results have already surfaced authentication flaws, exposed APIs, and misconfigured remote maintenance tools that could have been abused by attackers. By offering cash rewards and public recognition, these companies hope to tap into the broader ethical hacking community, shifting from reactive patching after incidents to proactive discovery before adversaries arrive.

30-11-2025