Comment by c0balt

4 months ago

The black market also exists because the potential payout for serious 0days by official programs is almost always less than what a third-party adversary will pay (if the target(s) for them are worth it).

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c0balt

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eastbound  4 months ago

This. Fortunately the law makes it that it’s inconvenient (possible prison time) to use the black market, which is a big thumb on the balance, but bug bounties are also often only $3000…

  • Aachen  4 months ago

    > Fortunately the law makes it that it’s inconvenient (possible prison time) to use the black market

    Don't forget that most people also simply don't sell bugs. They're not for sale in the first place; the bounty would be a thank-you or nice bonus, not a replacement for selling it

    I'm certainly not in a criminal bubble so I can't say how big the other side is, but (as a security consultant who knows a reasonable number of hackers) I doubt that I know anyone who'd choose, after getting no response from the company, to sell a bug for profit to a louche party rather than going full disclosure and warning everyone -- or just doing nothing because it's not like it's their problem

    Edit: nvm someone did come to mind. We tried to steer them onto the right path at our weekly CTF team meetings but I'm not sure we succeeded. Anywho, still one to a few dozen

  • yieldcrv  4 months ago

    Which law makes it a criminal sanction to use a black market like darknet marketplaces

    Software Exploits arent considered arms it is information that can be sold, the liability is on the person that does the unauthorized access, the person that steals data, the person that uses the data

    Hacking syndicates distribute liability akin to any corporation