The news: Both Google and Apple ramped up their bug bounty programs and are now offering record payouts to secure sprawling digital ecosystems. 

Big Tech’s rapid expansion has outpaced internal defenses, forcing companies to rely on external hackers to find and fix security gaps.

Apple’s focus: Its revamped bounty program now pays up to $2 million for full exploit chains that rival mercenary spyware. It shifts focus from single bugs to complex, chained attacks that mirror real-world exploits, per MacRumors.

• New “Target Flags” let researchers prove exactly what level of system access they achieved—code execution, sandbox escape, or data exfiltration—triggering immediate verification and faster payments. 
• The company is offering bonuses for Lockdown Mode bypasses, beta software flaws, and proximity exploits, revealing Apple’s concern over threats moving across devices and networks.

Google’s lens: Its expanded program covers Gemini, Search, Workspace, and AI Studio. Rewards top out at $30,000 for severe cases like model theft or prompt-based data leaks, per ZDNet.

• Its goal is to address vulnerabilities that arise when products, and their AI layers, interact in unpredictable ways.
• Since 2023, researchers have earned more than $430,000 from AI-related reports to its bug bounty program. The company hopes a dedicated program will scale oversight as its products grow increasingly interconnected.

Why it matters: As platforms expand from cloud to mobile to AI, their sprawling ecosystems create new vulnerabilities. Nearly half (45%) of IT and security leaders say data transformation and secure AI adoption will drive cybersecurity strategy in 2025, per Arctic Wolf. 

• Apple’s and Google’s moves align with these priorities, showing how AI integration now sits at the center of both innovation and exposure.
• By making bug bounties more enticing, both companies are enlisting ethical hackers to shore up defenses their internal teams can no longer manage alone.

Yes, but: Outsourcing security creates its own risks. Dependence on external hackers blurs accountability and exposes sensitive systems to a wider audience. 

What this means for brands: Big Tech’s growing reliance on outside hackers shows how fast digital risks are rising. Brands can’t wait for problems to surface. Protecting data and trust now requires constant monitoring, quick response plans, and open communication when things go wrong.