Beginner Bug Bounty Hunter – Stuck on Real-World Approach (Need Guidance)
Hey everyone,
I’m currently trying to get into bug bounty hunting and I feel a bit stuck transitioning from labs to real-world targets.
Here’s my current situation:
- I understand basic vulnerabilities like XSS, SQLi, IDOR
- I’ve used tools like Burp Suite, Nmap
- I know the concept that mastering one tool is better than using many
- I’ve studied networking basics and completed labs (PortSwigger, etc.)
But my main confusion is about real-world approach:
- In labs, I know a vulnerability exists → I just have to find it
- In bug bounty, I don’t even know:
- If the target has a bug
- Where to start testing
- What to test first
- Which vulnerabilities to focus on
I feel lost when I open a real target.
Some questions I’m struggling with:
- How do you choose a target as a beginner?
- What is your step-by-step methodology when testing a new website?
- How do you decide what vulnerability to look for first?
- How do you avoid wasting time on targets with no bugs?
- Any tips to get the first valid bug / bounty?
Also, if anyone is open to mentoring or guiding (even occasionally), I’d really appreciate it. I’m serious about learning and improving.
Thanks in advance