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The story

The UK Ministry of Defence pays no bounties. Instead, researchers who report a valid vulnerability through its HackerOne disclosure programme get a challenge coin, with a printed note: "Thank you & Happy Hunting!". The 2021 coin is polished silver with a notched edge and bottle-green enamel. The front has the MOD crest and "Ministry of Defence"; the back has "Vulnerability Disclosure Programme 2021" around a target mark. Later editions differ: a navy coin shows Britannia holding a laptop.

What stands out

A challenge coin borrows military tradition to make a hacker feel part of the unit. It costs little but means a lot.

For your next brief

Which tradition in your organisation could become a small object you hand to outsiders who helped?

Category
Awards & rewards
Material
Plated metal, enamel
Year
2021
Design
Die-struck coin, soft enamel, notched edge
Colour
Silver, bottle green
Origin
Official merch
Sources & image credits
ReferenceReport a vulnerability on an MOD system: GOV.UKMinistry of Defence
ReferenceI hacked the Ministry of Defence so they sent me this coinJacob Riggs
Social postMOD Hacker Coin: recipient post@Me9187 on X
Render referenceAtomgoods AI studio · product reference: @Me9187 on X