Do Son 
Not long ago, they were seen as fringe dwellers of the digital realm — hoodie-clad individuals hunched over laptops, ready to breach servers at a moment’s notice. Today, ethical hackers earn millions, collaborate with some of the world’s most powerful corporations, and are reshaping the cybersecurity industry from within. Bug bounty platforms have transformed what was once an underground craft into a viable career path — one marked by rewards, recognition, and genuine opportunities for those who once lived on the margins.
According to HackerOne, over the past six years alone, more than 50 individuals have earned upwards of one million dollars by uncovering vulnerabilities in the software of major enterprises. The platform underscores that the rise of ethical hacking as a profession is the result of relentless effort by a pioneering generation that turned a once-risky hobby into a respected domain within information security.
One emblematic figure of this transformation is Kevin Mitnick, who in his youth was among the FBI’s most wanted, and later became a renowned cybersecurity consultant. His journey — from mischievous hacker to one of the foremost authorities on network security — has become legend within the infosec community. Following his passing in 2023, he was hailed as a “cybersecurity superhero,” a man who proved that hacking could be harnessed for good.
Yet the road to professional legitimacy has not been smooth. In 2019, penetration testers Gary De Mercurio and Justin Wynn were arrested while executing a sanctioned security assessment at a courthouse in Dallas County, Iowa. Though charges were eventually dropped, both men continue to face difficulties during background checks and security clearances. Wynn credits the hacker community with salvaging their careers: in protest, ethical hackers boycotted the state of Iowa, refusing contracts until the authorities reassessed their stance. Their cause drew support not only from fellow hackers but also from clients — a watershed moment for the industry.
This shift in perception has not gone unnoticed by leading corporations. Bug bounty programs have become integral to the security strategies of companies like TikTok, Anthropic, Hyatt, Snap, Adobe, and even the U.S. Department of Defense. Today, such initiatives are viewed as essential to safeguarding digital infrastructure.
The geography of success is expanding as well. Among the new millionaires is a 19-year-old researcher from Argentina, alongside participants from Asia, Australia, North America, and Europe. One standout story is that of Nyeko “Specters” Rivera. Just a few years ago, he was homeless, without a degree or IT experience. At DEFCON, he was serendipitously handed an invitation card to a closed event — a car hacking competition. There, he uncovered his first critical vulnerability. Today, he’s searching for a home and actively mentoring members of the Latin American community aspiring to enter the bug bounty space.
Rivera attributes his success not to formal education but to the richness of lived experience — engaging with diverse communities, applying a non-academic lens to security, and thinking creatively. He believes that the most effective security teams are composed of individuals from varied backgrounds, perspectives, and methodologies. Many of the finest professionals never attended university or only entered the field later in life, yet they excel in their craft.
In his view, companies err when they restrict hiring to graduates of elite technical institutions. He urges HR departments to seek talent beyond traditional pipelines — among creative collectives, grassroots groups, and even self-taught prodigies from the streets.
This sentiment is echoed by another HackerOne millionaire, Marc Litchfield, who believes that anyone with a laptop and a curious mind can become a hacker. According to him, the achievements of bug hunters inspire others to join the movement, earn a living, and make the internet safer for all.
In this new reality, hacking no longer resembles a sinister activity lifted from thriller films — it has become a genuine vehicle for social mobility, open to anyone willing to try, learn, and break things — for the better. As experts note, the white-hat hacker is the profession of the future, where one can start from scratch and build a thriving career in cybersecurity.
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