Microsoft Widens Copilot AI Bug Bounty: Increased Reward Money and Strengthened Security Initiatives
Introduction
As AI technology becomes even more advanced, the security aspect will continue to be a priority for the tech giants. One such step forward by Microsoft in the field has been the expansion of the Copilot AI Bug Bounty Program. They have increased rewards as well and are ready to provide them with the help of discovering bugs in their software. These efforts try to strengthen the Copilot across platforms as cybersecurity risks come in many forms-stolen credential detection, darknet monitoring services, and tracking compromised data.
During the weekend, Microsoft expanded its Copilot AI bug bounty program. The company added a wider set of Copilot consumer products and services, which include:
- Copilot for Telegram
- WhatsApp Copilot
- copilot.microsoft.com
- copilot.ai
This reflects Microsoft's pursuit of brand safety and online threat assessment, expanding its AI protection with vulnerability management prior to their exploitation.
Raised Bounty Rewards on Moderate Vulnerability
Microsoft upped the rewards for security researchers with new rewards on moderate level vulnerabilities. Microsoft will pay rewards up to 5,000 dollars for medium level vulnerabilities to be reported.
“We are introducing new incentives for moderate severity Copilot cases. Researchers who identify and report moderate severity vulnerabilities will now be eligible for bounty rewards up to $5,000,” Microsoft stated.
This project not only expands the scope of digital threat scoring but also opens more avenues for security professionals to contribute to the safety and reliability of Copilot.
Copilot AI Bug Bounty Program: Expanded Coverage
The Copilot AI Bug Bounty Program now covers security reviews for Copilot's integration across various platforms, including:
- Microsoft Edge (Windows)
- Microsoft Copilot Application (iOS & Android)
- Windows OS
- Bing generative search (bing.com in Browser)
Bounty awards differ with the severity of reported vulnerabilities. For example, minor security flaws such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), and Improper Input Validation have a payout of $250. Critical vulnerabilities such as inference manipulation exploits that have major security risks are paid $30,000.
Microsoft 365 Bounty Program Expansion
Apart from Copilot, the company also announced the extension of its Microsoft 365 Bounty Program to cover its new Viva products. Under this bounty, security researchers are now eligible to report vulnerabilities found in:
- Feature Access Control
- Glint
- Learning
- Pulse
This bounty reward, for critical and high-impact vulnerabilities, now goes up to $27,000.
The Secure Future Initiative by Microsoft:
Microsoft’s aggressive push towards cyber resilience stems from its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), launched in November 2023. This initiative came in response to a critical report from the Cyber Safety Review Board of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which highlighted gaps in Microsoft’s security framework and called for urgent improvements.
A pivotal moment in this journey was the Zero Day Quest, a hacking event launched at the Microsoft Ignite Conference, offering $4 million in rewards for identifying vulnerabilities in cloud and AI products.
Conclusion
Microsoft is expanding its Copilot AI Bug Bounty Program as a reflection of its commitment to cybersecurity, defense against brand impersonation, and digital footprint analysis. Its move to increase rewards and extend its scope of eligible vulnerabilities is in fact proactive action against emerging threats.
With evolving cyber risks driven by AI, this kind of initiative is important for strengthening the security posture and safeguarding digital ecosystems. Now, more than ever, security researchers and even ethical hackers have an opportunity to contribute towards a more secure AI-powered future while being financially recompensed for their efforts.
If you’re a security expert, now is the time to leverage Microsoft’s bounty programs and play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of AI security standards.
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Feb. 19, 2025, 2:46 p.m.
