Bug Hunting from the Beach with Brad Schlintz

In this episode of The BlueHat Podcast, host Nic Fillingham and Wendy Zenone are joined by Brad Schlintz, independent security researcher and bug bounty hunter. Brad shares how he transitioned from a decade-long career as a software engineer to hacking Microsoft products while traveling the world with his wife. He recounts his early days tinkering with RuneScape bots, his experience working in SharePoint and Azure at Microsoft, and the moment he first encountered a real-world cybersecurity incident. He also discusses his journey into ethical hacking and his qualification for the upcoming Zero Day Quest, showcasing how he turned bug hunting into a lifestyle that allows him to work from anywhere—including a stunning island in Brazil. 

In This Episode You Will Learn:  

• How a single discovered bug can lead to finding multiple vulnerabilities in the same area 
• The importance of exploring app integrations when searching for security vulnerabilities 
• Why building on prior discoveries can make it easier to uncover more hidden security issues 

Some Questions We Ask: 

• What guidance can you share with other researchers and hackers on how to find vulnerabilities? 
• Why did your background in software engineering help you in your bug bounty work? 
• How did you transition from working on the website incident to more full-time security research? 

Resources:      

View Brad Schlintz on LinkedIn    

View Wendy Zenone on LinkedIn   

View Nic Fillingham on LinkedIn  

Related Microsoft Podcasts:   

• Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   
• Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson   
• Uncovering Hidden Risks   

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

The BlueHat Podcast is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.