Web3 technology, which is based on blockchain and decentralized systems, is becoming more and more popular. As a result, the demand for web3 developers and specialists is also increasing rapidly. To ensure that the web3 technology is secure and reliable, bug bounty programs are being launched by many companies and organizations.
However, there are various variations and vulnerabilities that web3 bug bounty programs should consider. In this guide, we will explore the different types of bug bounty programs, vulnerabilities, and the future of web3 technology.
Story time: Finding a loophole in a web3 app
As a web3 developer, Jane was tasked with creating a decentralized finance (DeFi) app that would allow users to lend and borrow cryptocurrency. She worked hard on it, tested it, and even got her colleagues to review it. She was confident that the app was secure and free of vulnerabilities.
However, a week after launching the app, Jane received an email from a hacker, claiming to have found a loophole in the app's smart contract code. The hacker demanded a ransom to reveal the vulnerability. Jane was terrified - the app's reputation was on the line, and the company could go bankrupt if the vulnerability was exploited.
But instead of paying the extortionist, Jane signed up for a web3 bug bounty program, which offered rewards to hackers for finding and reporting vulnerabilities in web3 apps. Within a day, several ethical hackers had reported the same vulnerability to Jane, and she was able to fix it before any damage was caused.
This experience taught Jane the importance of bug bounty programs and the need for developers to be proactive about securing web3 technology.
Types of web3 bug bounty programs
- Public programs: These are open to anyone who wants to participate in the bounty program, and rewards are given to the person who reports the vulnerability first.
- Private programs: These are invite-only programs that are only open to a select group of people, usually experienced ethical hackers.
- Continuous programs: These programs are ongoing and allow developers to submit vulnerabilities at any time.
- Focused programs: These are specific bug bounty programs that are focused on a particular type of vulnerability or system.
Common web3 vulnerabilities
Web3 technology is still relatively new, and as such, there are several vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Here are some of the most common web3 vulnerabilities:
- Smart contract vulnerabilities: Smart contracts are the backbone of blockchain technology, but they are also susceptible to vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers.
- DDoS attacks: Decentralized systems are vulnerable to distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks can overload the network's resources and take it offline.
- Blockchain exploits: Blockchains can be exploited if there is a flaw in the consensus mechanism or if a majority of nodes collude to validate incorrect transactions.
- Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks are attacks that use social engineering to trick users into revealing sensitive information such as passwords or private keys.
The future of web3 technology
Despite the vulnerabilities that exist in web3 technology, it still has great potential for the future. Here are three ways web3 technology is expected to evolve:
- Interoperability: Web3 technology is expected to become more interoperable, meaning that different blockchains and decentralized systems will be able to work together seamlessly.
- Scalability: As more people adopt web3 technology, it will become increasingly important that it can handle the scale. Solutions such as sharding and sidechains are currently being developed to address this issue.
- Decentralization: Web3 technology is all about decentralization, and this trend is expected to continue. Decentralized systems are more secure, transparent, and democratic than centralized systems, and as such, are becoming more popular.
Curated by Team Akash.Mittal.Blog
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