SIGNALInfrastructure Software·Jun 18, 2026, 3:00 PMSignal55Medium term

Google told researcher 'Nice catch!' Then denied bug bounty for flaw it still hasn't fixed

Source: The Register

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Google told researcher 'Nice catch!' Then denied bug bounty for flaw it still hasn't fixed

EXCLUSIVE 'Working as intended' for the win … again

Why this matters
Why now

This incident highlights an ongoing tension between security researchers and large tech companies regarding bug bounty programs and the responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities.

Why it’s important

It underscores the potential for systemic flaws in corporate security practices and the inadequacy of current bug bounty frameworks for effectively addressing them, impacting overall digital trust and security.

What changes

The case reveals that even critical vulnerabilities might not be swiftly addressed or rewarded, potentially disincentivizing security researchers and fostering a less secure digital ecosystem.

Winners
  • · Malicious actors
  • · Security-focused competitors
Losers
  • · Google
  • · Google users
  • · Independent security researchers
Second-order effects
Direct

Google faces reputational damage and potential increased vulnerability exposure due to unresolved security flaws.

Second

Other large tech companies may re-evaluate their bug bounty programs to avoid similar public relations issues and maintain researcher goodwill.

Third

A decline in independent security research due to perceived unfairness could lead to a less secure global software landscape over time.

Editorial confidence: 90 / 100 · Structural impact: 40 / 100
Original report

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